VV 2-30
The
VV 2-30 'suitcase' portable was introduced in the spring of 1927 as a model-name
update of the entry-level VV 1-6;
it was a virtual clone of the 1-6, but now featured a red interior coloring.
The 2-30 was a basic economy phonograph, using a wood case covered with black
fabric. Like the 1-6, it had a No. 4 Soundbox and a single spring motor. It did
not feature Orthophonic reproduction. Sound was directed from the tonearm
through a wood baffle inside the case, and out the front grille opening.
The original 1927 selling price of the VV 2-30 was $25.00, which equates to
about $500.00 in today's money. An estimated total of 37,000 Victrola 2-30's
were produced before it was discontinued in the early months of 1928. By that
time, portable models such as the VV 2-35, which provided superior performance,
could be purchased for about the same price.
A general
lack of collector interest in portable Victrolas limits the current valuation of
this model.
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 2-30 to be S/N 719 and the latest to be S/N 36644.
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