victor talking machine

[oldappliancenut]

I got this today at a flea market always wanted one...It didn't even cost a days pay Needs a good cleaning though

 

[oldappliancenut]

more pics

YAY LOL

 

[oldappliancenut]

Lots of dirt

ewwww

 

[oldappliancenut]

pics

last one

 

[rp2813]

That'll clean up. I see it's the Granada model but I'm not familiar with it. Does it have a bonnet top?

 

[sudsmaster]

Looks like an orthophonic reproducer... does it have the orthophonic folded exponential horn in the cabinet as well? If so, and if the reproducer is in good condition, it should put out some quite good sound.

Be careful with that reproducer, though. It looks like it's a nine rib one, which means it has a pot metal body that can crumble when dis-assembled.

 

[rp2813]

I don't think the cabinet on this one is big enough to hold a logrithmic horn. But the reproducer is another story. I wonder how Orthophonic reproducers do on non-Orthophonic machines. I've never owned an Orthophonic machine and have been hoping to one day find one that I could trade my L-door Victrola XVI for.

 

[oldappliancenut]

Its get takin in

Shes goin for repairs tomorrow YAY

 

[alanlendaro]

it is an Orthophonic Victrola

I have several, some have the exponential horns others don't. I believe you have the "GRANADA" Model (also known as the VV 4-4) which was introduced in the fist wave of Orthophonic Victrolas on November 2nd, 1925 "Victor Day" - Quite a bit of hype and hubub accompanied the announcement of the machines - The others were the top of the line CREDENZA another mid line, short lived model called the COLONY and the lowest price model the CONSOLETTE. All used the Orthophonic sound box and were designed to play records recorded using the new Electrically recorded records Victor introduced mid 1925.

78,608 were manufactured with the spring wound motor.19,860 were equipped with the new Induction Disc electric motor which ran on AC.

These machines, even the lower end models, have fantastic sound especially when the sound boxes are restored and clean Victor Orthophonic records are played.

There is an excellent book titled "Look for the Dog" by Robert Baumbach, which is the source of the above information.

Enjoy it!

Alan

 

[rp2813]

Alan, thanks for that interesting information. I always thought that a logrithmic horn required a large cabinet but I guess they simply shrunk down the dimensions to fit a smaller box. The "square" shape of the horn as shown from behind threw me on this one.

My machine has the orginal "Exhibition" reproducer. Would an Orthophonic reproducer improve sound quality on a pre-Orthophonic machine like my L-door? That may be as close as I'll ever get to owning an Orthophonic model but I'll continue to dream that one day the right spring-motor Credenza will come along. Having owned my L-door for nearly 40 years, I think it's time for a change!

 

[alanlendaro]

do you have an "L-Door" VV-XVI?

those are pretty neat on their own. An Orthophonic sound box would not fit on the tone arm without serious modfication. Keep looking for those Credenzas - they are out there. I have one I would like to sell, but I am in CT.

Alan

 

[athanasius80]

The Granada's a NICE machine. Very 1920s. Pay the extra dollars to get a good professional to rebuild the Orthophonic sound box. The diaphraghm is stamped aluminum and very thin. Also the needlebar on those runs on magnetic ball bearings. Its not something that you'd want to teach yourself to rebuild. And the sound... oh boy!

 

[rp2813]

Yes Alan, I have the VV-XVI. A friend and I got into collecting old 78's in the late 60's and immediately wanted the right machines to play them on. He found a table top Victrola at the Flea Market for $25. That was 1969. A few months later I found my VV-XVI at a garage sale for $30. I didn't drive then, had to bike it and then get my dad to take me back out with the pick-up to haul it home. It needs some restoration work but works fine. I know a guy who rebuilds the sound boxes and he has restored the original Exhibtion reproducer on mine. My problem, as so many here can relate to, is space. I've always had the machine angled in a corner but have come to the point where I'd like something I can place against a wall without having to allow extra room away from the wall for the top to lift freely. A Credenza or other Orthophonic model in similar shape to my XVI would be the only machine I'd want to replace it with. I've got a couple of feelers out there re: working out a trade so we'll see what comes of it.

Ralph