VV 1-5
The
VV 1-5 was a portable 'suitcase' phonograph introduced in the early summer
of 1926, replacing the discontinued VV-35. It was
considered to be a premium model when compared to the basic VV 1-6,
with a larger black cloth-covered case and a marginally better sound quality. A slot was provided in the lid to store
a few records. Like the 1-6, it came with a single spring motor and a Victrola
"No. 4" soundbox and did not feature Orthophonic reproduction. Sound was
radiated from the rear opening behind the turntable and was reflected off the
lid toward the listener. Therefore, the lid had to be open in order to play
records. The 1-5 was made through early 1927 at which point production was
terminated, having been replaced by the new VV 2-35.
However, a considerable 'overstock' of these machines at the plant resulted in
shipments trickling out to dealers until the end of the year.
The original selling price of the VV 1-5 was $35.00, which equates to
about $675.00 in today's money. An estimated total of 25,000 Victrola 1-5
machines were
produced, making it one of the less-common portable models. However, a general
lack of collector interest in portable Victrolas limits the current valuation.
Approximate chronology of Victrola "Suitcase" portable models
| 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Model | VV-35 | VV-35 | VV-35 / VV 1-6 | VV 1-6 / VV 2-30 | VV 2-30 / VV 2-35 | VV 2-35 | |||
| Premium Model | VV-50 | VV-50 | VV-50 | VV-50 | VV-50 | VV-50 / VV 1-5 | VV 1-5 / VV 2-60 | VV 2-60 / VV 2-55 | VV 2-55 |
The current survival database shows the earliest existent VV 1-5 to be S/N 588 and the latest to be S/N 24291.
Do you own a Victrola VV 1-5? Please take a moment and enter some basic information about your machine into the collector's database by clicking here. No personal information is required.