Phonoland

Hello to all,
Today I met a fellow who works at a "collectibles" store

We started talking about many things and the fact came up that he has a Victor VV 2-35 portable

Someone has robbed it of it's Orthophonic sound box

I have not seen the machine to comment on it's condition and I think his only interest is getting the machine complete enough to sell in the jun......er, uh "collectibles" arena

Will a more easily found and affordable "No.2" fit on this machine?

Better yet, will all Victor sound boxes interchange physically?

I understand that by doing so you may not get the most out of it sound quality wise

Thanks to all,
Craig

The VV-2-35 -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/2-35.htm -- unfortunately, was fitted with a specially modified reproducer. The sound box does not have a connecting "throat" to enable its insertion onto the end of the tonearm. Instead, there a circular plate on the end of the tonearm, fitted with three screw-holes, that the sound box screws onto.

An illustration of what I'm talking about can be seen here -- http://z13.invisionfree.com/OTVMMB/inde ... wtopic=138

The 2-35 sound box, itself, is fitted with a conventional Orthophonic diaphragm, but its case is made out of sheet metal that is press-fitted together. I once attempted to dismantle one by prying apart the edges and ended up destroying the sound box and jamming a screwdriver into my hand. (Still have the scar 35 years later.)

I've seen a few of the VV-2-35 sound boxes come up for sale, from time to time, on Ebay. In order to fit another type of sound box onto the tonearm, you'd have to literally cut away the "throat" portion that is normally inserted onto a conventional tonearm. Personally, I'd pass on it.

By the way, fitting a #2 sound box onto any type of Orthophonic Victrola does, indeed, change the sound quality. It also requires the use of an adapter since the end of an Orthophonic tonearm is larger than the pre-Orthophonic Victrola models. There's an illustration of front and back images of various HMV sound boxes (UK-produced versions of the American Victor sound boxes) that shows the difference between the throat sizes -- http://www.graham-ophones.co.uk/communi ... 035818.jpg

I don't know if you've ever heard a good-condition/restored Orthophonic portable, such as the VV-2-55---the bigger brother of the 2-35. That DOES use a conventional Orthophonic sound box--and the sound quality is AMAZING. Not only is it rooming filling, but it pumps out quite a strong impression of bass. (The horn, after all, is not only exponential, but about four feet long, including the tonearm.) You can get a good idea by listening to the video on this page -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvvWPybVe-M
While slightly smaller, with the "modified" Orthophonic sound box, the 2-35 isn't exactly anemic. Unfortunately, I can't find a decent video of one

Fitting a pre-Orthophonic sound box onto an Orthophonic model, again using an adapter, basically cancels out any advantage the exponential horn brings--a total loss of bass on larger models, along with much of the mid-range. The result is also rather hollow sounding and rather shrill.

Joe

Thank you Joe for the wonderfully thorough reply

I "hear" see and understand

The reason I posted this question in the first place (besides wanting to help the fellow out) was that in a cell phone photo he showed me the end of his arm appeared to have the same "push and twist" termination as does my VV 210, No. 2 equipped machine

This also, as well as several other photos of Orthophonics gave me reason to believe they might at least "fit":
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Victor-Vi ... 5b0c6d98ad


It did not appear to have been modified, but who knows? I'll have a second, closer look tomorrow (he has threatened to bring the machine down to the shop)

I had also read that the 2-35's sound box was proprietary and not the Western Electric design as is found on the 2-55

I'll tell you what I learn after I have that second look

Thank you again for your help

Craig