I'm restoring an RCA model 9-40 Electrola and am curious about the two record pickups (one acoustic and the other electric). Anyone know why two were used?

: I'm restoring an RCA model 9-40 Electrola and am curious about the two record pickups (one acoustic and the other electric). Anyone know why two were used?

REPLY TO ABOVE POST>>>

Lou:

Here's some general information about the VV9-40 from "Look for the Dog," by Robert Baumbach:

Victor Victrola 9-40 (VV9-40) Electric/Acoustic Model:
Production Dates: 1927-1928
ORIGINAL Selling Price: $1000
Total number of units produced: 5,136

"This was Victor's updated version of their most expensive Orthophonic Victrola and offered the owner the
choice of all-electric reproduction of records or radio in addition to traditional acoustic reproduction of records.
Nearly identical in appearance to the earlier Borgia II Victrola-Radiola, it incorporated a minor change to the
amplifier (a hum control adjustment was added) and substituted four smaller front doors for the clumsy double
door arrangement of its predecessor.

Built into the left side of the cabinet was a Radiola 28 AC chassis (RCA's finest). The AC power supply
eliminated the need for batteries. Radio reproduction was through the Orthophonic, however a jack was
provided for a separate lout speaker, if desired. The radio and amplifier used seven UX-199, one UX-120, one
UV-876, and two UX-216-B tubes. Record reproduction could be had through the standard Orthophonic tone
arm and sound box (acoustical) or through an electrical pick-up (supplied by RCA) grafted to the same tone
arm.

When the electrical pick up was used, the reproduction was through the radio's amplifier and speaker, and
volume could be controlled by a knob near the turntable. The left lid covered the radio controls, including a
wheel for positioning the built in loop antenna. The right lid covered the Victrola, and both lids were supported
by air dashpots for automatic closing.

The instrument was equipped with an induction AC only electric motor for the 12 inch turntable. The left door
concealed eight record albums, providing storage for eighty records, while the right door concealed the
Orthophonic horn. A pilot lamp on the front indicated when power was on. The cabinet was in the Italian
Renaissance style with a blended finish on Walnut veneer.

Dimensions of the instrument were 47 inches high by 45 inches wide and 22.25 inches deep."

(I'm hoping that the original Orthophonic horn was not removed from the right side of the cabinet. I've seen a
few examples where modifications were made to "update" these machines.)

BTW, what you actually have is a Victor product, since RCA did not acquire the Victor Talking Machine
Company until 1929. To learn more about the Orthophonic Victrola, you may want to pay a visit to
Victor-Victrola.com, which profiles all of the acoustic machines Victor produced.

For help restoring the Orthophonic tone chamber, you may also want to check out Tim Gracyk's Antique
Record Machines (http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/) Fully restored, the acoustic reproduction through the
Orthophonic sound box will be as good -- if not better than -- the reproduction through the electrical pick up.
No explanation has ever been offered as to why Victor supplied two methods of reproduction in one Victrola.

HTH,
David Spanovich

: : I'm restoring an RCA model 9-40 Electrola and am curious about the two record pickups (one acoustic and the other electric). Anyone know why two were used?

: REPLY TO ABOVE POST>>>

: Lou:

: Here's some general information about the VV9-40 from "Look for the Dog," by Robert Baumbach:

: Victor Victrola 9-40 (VV9-40) Electric/Acoustic Model:
: Production Dates: 1927-1928
: ORIGINAL Selling Price: $1000
: Total number of units produced: 5,136

: "This was Victor's updated version of their most expensive Orthophonic Victrola and offered the owner the
: choice of all-electric reproduction of records or radio in addition to traditional acoustic reproduction of records.
: Nearly identical in appearance to the earlier Borgia II Victrola-Radiola, it incorporated a minor change to the
: amplifier (a hum control adjustment was added) and substituted four smaller front doors for the clumsy double
: door arrangement of its predecessor.

: Built into the left side of the cabinet was a Radiola 28 AC chassis (RCA's finest). The AC power supply
: eliminated the need for batteries. Radio reproduction was through the Orthophonic, however a jack was
: provided for a separate lout speaker, if desired. The radio and amplifier used seven UX-199, one UX-120, one
: UV-876, and two UX-216-B tubes. Record reproduction could be had through the standard Orthophonic tone
: arm and sound box (acoustical) or through an electrical pick-up (supplied by RCA) grafted to the same tone
: arm.

: When the electrical pick up was used, the reproduction was through the radio's amplifier and speaker, and
: volume could be controlled by a knob near the turntable. The left lid covered the radio controls, including a
: wheel for positioning the built in loop antenna. The right lid covered the Victrola, and both lids were supported
: by air dashpots for automatic closing.
:
: The instrument was equipped with an induction AC only electric motor for the 12 inch turntable. The left door
: concealed eight record albums, providing storage for eighty records, while the right door concealed the
: Orthophonic horn. A pilot lamp on the front indicated when power was on. The cabinet was in the Italian
: Renaissance style with a blended finish on Walnut veneer.

: Dimensions of the instrument were 47 inches high by 45 inches wide and 22.25 inches deep."

: (I'm hoping that the original Orthophonic horn was not removed from the right side of the cabinet. I've seen a
: few examples where modifications were made to "update" these machines.)

:
: BTW, what you actually have is a Victor product, since RCA did not acquire the Victor Talking Machine
: Company until 1929. To learn more about the Orthophonic Victrola, you may want to pay a visit to
: Victor-Victrola.com, which profiles all of the acoustic machines Victor produced.

: For help restoring the Orthophonic tone chamber, you may also want to check out Tim Gracyk's Antique
: Record Machines (http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/) Fully restored, the acoustic reproduction through the
: Orthophonic sound box will be as good -- if not better than -- the reproduction through the electrical pick up.
: No explanation has ever been offered as to why Victor supplied two methods of reproduction in one Victrola.

:
: HTH,
: David Spanovich

David,
Thanks very much. Your info was the best yet I've been able to obtain on this Victrola. I note that two type 81's are installed instead of the UX-216-B half wave rectifiers. The original Orthophonic horn is in place and it sounds great. Working on getting the electronics operating now.
Thanks again,
Lou

If you've any more questions regarding the Victrola portion of your 9-40, feel free to drop by the Victrola Music Message Board (http://www.besmark.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html). There are a lot of knowledgeable people there who may be able to help.

DS

: : : I'm restoring an RCA model 9-40 Electrola and am curious about the two record pickups (one acoustic and the other electric). Anyone know why two were used?

: : REPLY TO ABOVE POST>>>

: : Lou:

: : Here's some general information about the VV9-40 from "Look for the Dog," by Robert Baumbach:

: : Victor Victrola 9-40 (VV9-40) Electric/Acoustic Model:
: : Production Dates: 1927-1928
: : ORIGINAL Selling Price: $1000
: : Total number of units produced: 5,136

: : "This was Victor's updated version of their most expensive Orthophonic Victrola and offered the owner the
: : choice of all-electric reproduction of records or radio in addition to traditional acoustic reproduction of records.
: : Nearly identical in appearance to the earlier Borgia II Victrola-Radiola, it incorporated a minor change to the
: : amplifier (a hum control adjustment was added) and substituted four smaller front doors for the clumsy double
: : door arrangement of its predecessor.

: : Built into the left side of the cabinet was a Radiola 28 AC chassis (RCA's finest). The AC power supply
: : eliminated the need for batteries. Radio reproduction was through the Orthophonic, however a jack was
: : provided for a separate lout speaker, if desired. The radio and amplifier used seven UX-199, one UX-120, one
: : UV-876, and two UX-216-B tubes. Record reproduction could be had through the standard Orthophonic tone
: : arm and sound box (acoustical) or through an electrical pick-up (supplied by RCA) grafted to the same tone
: : arm.

: : When the electrical pick up was used, the reproduction was through the radio's amplifier and speaker, and
: : volume could be controlled by a knob near the turntable. The left lid covered the radio controls, including a
: : wheel for positioning the built in loop antenna. The right lid covered the Victrola, and both lids were supported
: : by air dashpots for automatic closing.
: :
: : The instrument was equipped with an induction AC only electric motor for the 12 inch turntable. The left door
: : concealed eight record albums, providing storage for eighty records, while the right door concealed the
: : Orthophonic horn. A pilot lamp on the front indicated when power was on. The cabinet was in the Italian
: : Renaissance style with a blended finish on Walnut veneer.

: : Dimensions of the instrument were 47 inches high by 45 inches wide and 22.25 inches deep."

: : (I'm hoping that the original Orthophonic horn was not removed from the right side of the cabinet. I've seen a
: : few examples where modifications were made to "update" these machines.)

: :
: : BTW, what you actually have is a Victor product, since RCA did not acquire the Victor Talking Machine
: : Company until 1929. To learn more about the Orthophonic Victrola, you may want to pay a visit to
: : Victor-Victrola.com, which profiles all of the acoustic machines Victor produced.

: : For help restoring the Orthophonic tone chamber, you may also want to check out Tim Gracyk's Antique
: : Record Machines (http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/) Fully restored, the acoustic reproduction through the
: : Orthophonic sound box will be as good -- if not better than -- the reproduction through the electrical pick up.
: : No explanation has ever been offered as to why Victor supplied two methods of reproduction in one Victrola.

: :
: : HTH,
: : David Spanovich

: David,
: Thanks very much. Your info was the best yet I've been able to obtain on this Victrola. I note that two type 81's are installed instead of the UX-216-B half wave rectifiers. The original Orthophonic horn is in place and it sounds great. Working on getting the electronics operating now.
: Thanks again,
: Lou

Well I posted my name but sent this before asking you if you know anything about the model above. I have this unit with a bill of sale dated Dec 24th 1927----purchased by my grandfather for $1,150.00.
Any idea what it is worth.?

: : : : I'm restoring an RCA model 9-40 Electrola and am curious about the two record pickups (one acoustic and the other electric). Anyone know why two were used?

: : : REPLY TO ABOVE POST>>>

: : : Lou:

: : : Here's some general information about the VV9-40 from "Look for the Dog," by Robert Baumbach:

: : : Victor Victrola 9-40 (VV9-40) Electric/Acoustic Model:
: : : Production Dates: 1927-1928
: : : ORIGINAL Selling Price: $1000
: : : Total number of units produced: 5,136

: : : "This was Victor's updated version of their most expensive Orthophonic Victrola and offered the owner the
: : : choice of all-electric reproduction of records or radio in addition to traditional acoustic reproduction of records.
: : : Nearly identical in appearance to the earlier Borgia II Victrola-Radiola, it incorporated a minor change to the
: : : amplifier (a hum control adjustment was added) and substituted four smaller front doors for the clumsy double
: : : door arrangement of its predecessor.

: : : Built into the left side of the cabinet was a Radiola 28 AC chassis (RCA's finest). The AC power supply
: : : eliminated the need for batteries. Radio reproduction was through the Orthophonic, however a jack was
: : : provided for a separate lout speaker, if desired. The radio and amplifier used seven UX-199, one UX-120, one
: : : UV-876, and two UX-216-B tubes. Record reproduction could be had through the standard Orthophonic tone
: : : arm and sound box (acoustical) or through an electrical pick-up (supplied by RCA) grafted to the same tone
: : : arm.

: : : When the electrical pick up was used, the reproduction was through the radio's amplifier and speaker, and
: : : volume could be controlled by a knob near the turntable. The left lid covered the radio controls, including a
: : : wheel for positioning the built in loop antenna. The right lid covered the Victrola, and both lids were supported
: : : by air dashpots for automatic closing.
: : :
: : : The instrument was equipped with an induction AC only electric motor for the 12 inch turntable. The left door
: : : concealed eight record albums, providing storage for eighty records, while the right door concealed the
: : : Orthophonic horn. A pilot lamp on the front indicated when power was on. The cabinet was in the Italian
: : : Renaissance style with a blended finish on Walnut veneer.

: : : Dimensions of the instrument were 47 inches high by 45 inches wide and 22.25 inches deep."

: : : (I'm hoping that the original Orthophonic horn was not removed from the right side of the cabinet. I've seen a
: : : few examples where modifications were made to "update" these machines.)

: : :
: : : BTW, what you actually have is a Victor product, since RCA did not acquire the Victor Talking Machine
: : : Company until 1929. To learn more about the Orthophonic Victrola, you may want to pay a visit to
: : : Victor-Victrola.com, which profiles all of the acoustic machines Victor produced.

: : : For help restoring the Orthophonic tone chamber, you may also want to check out Tim Gracyk's Antique
: : : Record Machines (http://www.garlic.com/~tgracyk/) Fully restored, the acoustic reproduction through the
: : : Orthophonic sound box will be as good -- if not better than -- the reproduction through the electrical pick up.
: : : No explanation has ever been offered as to why Victor supplied two methods of reproduction in one Victrola.

: : :
: : : HTH,
: : : David Spanovich

: : David,
: : Thanks very much. Your info was the best yet I've been able to obtain on this Victrola. I note that two type 81's are installed instead of the UX-216-B half wave rectifiers. The original Orthophonic horn is in place and it sounds great. Working on getting the electronics operating now.
: : Thanks again,
: : Lou