VV-35
The
VV-35 was Victor's second-generation 'suitcase-style' phonograph. The popularity
of its predecessor, the VV-50, prompted Victor to
manufacture a lower-cost portable model which also had the advantage of less
weight and a more rugged cabinet. The VV-35 was introduced in the fall of
1924, and sold moderately well for a few years. Retailing for just $35.00 (which
equates to about $680.00 in today's money), it featured a small single spring
motor, a Victrola "No 2" soundbox, nickel plated hardware and a durable black
fabric cover over the wood cabinet frame.
As was the case with the VV-50, the horn was located to the rear of the tonearm
assembly; therefore, the lid had to remain open in order to listen to records. A
small space in the lid allowed users to carry a few records inside the cabinet.
The VV-35 sold almost 60,000 copies over the course of three years. Production
was discontinued in early 1926, when the vastly improved Orthophonic portables
(such as the VV 2-60) were introduced. Even though public
interest in wind-up phonographs was beginning to wane in the early 1920's, the
demand for portable machines such as the VV-35 remained strong throughout the
entire decade.
| Manufacture Date | Serial Number Range | Feature Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1924 | 501-19000 | |
| 1925 | 19001-53000 | |
| 1926 | 53001-60500 | Production ceased early in year |
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-35 to be S/N 525 and the latest to be S/N 60517.
Do you own a Victrola VV-35? 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.