The Victor-Victrola Page   

VV-280

RARITY: ¤¤   VALUE:  ¤ 

The VV-280 was a mid-range 'console-style' phonograph, introduced in early 1922. Its debut was concurrent with the reorganizing of the entire Victrola product line. These new models used conventional Arabic number designations rather than the previous Roman numerals, but they were essentially cosmetic variations of the same products that had been offered since 1906. The resounding success of console-style models which were being produced by other phonograph manufacturers likely motivated Victor to produce its own line of machines in the 'lowboy' horizontal style; however, the company did not want to mimic designs that others had produced, so their first console machines had a 'hump-top' appearance. This concept replicated the domed-lid profile that had been in use on their upright phonograph models since 1907. The end-result was a rather strange looking cabinet that was neither very practical (one could not place anything on top of the machine since all surfaces were angled) nor particularly appealing.
The expensive VV-300, introduced in June of 1921, was the first Victrola with a hump-top cabinet. It initially sold quite well. The company soon began making preparations to introduce lower-cost versions of this design, but by the end of the year the hump-top machines were falling out of favor. The public now preferred the practicality and appearance of flat-top console phonographs, which were being offered by several competitors. By the time the expanded line-up of hump-top Victrolas (including the VV-280) were launched in early 1922, buyers were already trending away from this style and sales were disappointing. Victor then had to scramble to launch its own line of flat-top phonographs.
The VV-280 was considered to be an upscale machine, with gold-plated hardware, a two-spring motor, and a minimal amount of hand-carved trim. VV-280 models were produced in a choice of mahogany, oak or walnut  veneers.  The original 1922 selling price of the 280 was $200.00, which equates to almost $3,100.00 in today's money.
A total of just 12,700 VV-280 machines were made before production was terminated just a few months after its introduction. Victor ultimately produced more of these models than could be sold at list price.  Due to this overproduction, it is quite likely that many VV-280 machines were sold during Victor's well-advertised "half-price" sale during the summer of 1925. For more information on Victor's financial crisis of 1924-1925 and the overproduction of phonographs, please click here.
In general, collector interest in the VV-280 (and many similar console-style Victrola models) is weak today. The designs of these later-vintage Victrolas provide (in the view of many) a far less appealing package than can be found in some of the elegant upright models. 

The survival database currently shows the earliest existent VV-280 to be S/N 564 and the latest to be S/N 13205

Do you own a Victrola VV-280? 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.