VV 4-3 / Consolette / Consolette X / VE 4-3 X
RARITY: ¤ VALUE ¤
The Consolette was one of the first four Orthophonic Victrola models introduced in late 1925. It was a low-cost, small console-style machine that was quite popular with middle-class Americans. This model remained in production into early 1929, indicating that it remained a strong seller. The Consolette was available only with a mahogany finish, and included an Orthophonic Reproducer, exponential horn, and nickel plated hardware (an antique bronze finish was used at the end of the production run). Early production versions (left) had no grille cloth covering the horn opening and used a simple single spring motor, with a small 10" turntable. In December 1925, the turntable was enlarged to 12" and a double spring motor and grille cloth was added. In mid-1926, the auto brake feature was added. In mid-1927, the cabinet design was modernized (right), with a more squared-off appearance.
The original 1925 selling price of the 4-3 was $85.00. The price was later raised to $95.00. An estimated total of 234,323 hand-wound Victrola 4-3's were produced, making it the most popular of the full size (non-portable) Orthophonic phonographs.
The 4-3 was also available with an electric motor option (VE 4-3) for $35.00 extra. The production logs show that a total of 7,428 of these machines were produced, however the serial numbers of surviving examples indicate that at least 8,000 were made.
NOTE: The production numbers below are estimates, as factory records are inaccurate on this model.
The current collector database shows the earliest existent VV-4-3 to be S/N 932 and the latest to be S/N 238070
The earliest existent VE 4-3 (electric) is s/n 754 and the latest is 8465
| Manufacture Date | Serial Number Range | Feature Notes |
| 1925 | 501-10500 | No grille cloth over horn. Name changed to VV 4-3 in Dec 1925. |
| 1926 | 10500-65500 | Auto brake added at s/n 39501. |
| 1927 | 65500-156500 | Cabinet design modernized at s/n 91000 |
| 1928 | 156500-223000 | |
| 1929 | 223000-234824 | |
| VE 4-3 Electric: | ||
| 1925 | None | |
| 1926 | 501-4300 | All VE 4-3's have a horn cover cloth |
| 1927 | 4300-6600 | Cabinet design modernized at s/n 6401 |
| 1928 | 6600-7750 | |
| 1929 | 7750-7929 |
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