Victor Victrola Orthophonic Bronze/Gun Metal Reproducer Credenza, VV4-7,8-30,etc

Description

Victor Victrola No.5 Orthophonic Reproducer - Gun Metal/Bronze
Accurately Restored - Excellent Full Range Sound - Top Quality
Original Victor Duralumin Diaphragm circa 1926-27
You are purchasing a carefully and accurately restored original gun metal/bronze finished Victor Victrola Orthophonic No.5 Soundbox-Reproducer in excellent overall condition. This reproducer is suitable for all acoustic Orthophonic floor model Victrolas including the Credenza and it will work with many Victor Orthophonic portables and table top Victrolas. Because of its finish it is especially suited for machines like the VV 8-35, the 4-7, 4-20, 4-40 and all other Orthophonic Victrolas that have faux bronze/gun metal finished hardware.
This particular sound box is made of pot metal but it is in good physical condition with no cracks or swelling. If you look closely at the pictures you will see light surface wear that is consistent with an original part of this age.
All of the bearings used in the needle fulcrum/pivot are new highly polished precision steel ball bearings. The original rubber washers were hard and have been replaced with new custom made grooved rubber spacers. (See exploded view above.) One of the not so obvious but critical points of service involves cleaning and polishing the bearing races and the pivot pin itself. This is important because the old dried out rubber and oxidation that forms on the parts must be cleaned. In order to do this, the pivot pin must be removed. Removing it safely (and installing it again) requires a special press. There are some folks who literally beat the fulcrums out with a hammer! Servicing the fulcrum and the bearing races is an invaluable part of proper service that is usually neglected by most people who claim to be restorers. I know because I am often sent reproducers that have been inadequately serviced.
The original Duralumin diaphragm is in excellent condition It was cleaned in a solvent and then the old hard dried shellac sealant was replaced with modern silver colored lacquer.
The parts that I am selling are top quality. I rely on technical information that I have actually studied in patents as well as original Victor, Bell, RCA and Western Electric engineering texts. Once you understand a design from an engineering point of view you can use your mind and hands to properly restore something based on the way it is supposed to function. This is the key to accurate work and the elimination of careless mistakes that inflicted by weekend warriors. Improper service and guesswork always leads to the destruction of irreplaceable records.
This reproducer sounds very nice and it's performance is comparable to what can be achieved from even the very best properly serviced Orthophonic reproducer. Personally I tend to be a fan of my the brass Orthophonic reproducers and prefer their tone above any other, but many of the pot metal reproducers like this one perform just as well for most recordings. The interpretation of sound depends on many factors such as personal preferences and the fitness of human ears, so if you have any questions please email me.