VV-210 / VE-210 / VV-S-210

VV-210 / VE-210 / VV-S-210

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The VV-210 was a low-priced, flat-top console phonograph. Its introduction in the fall of 1922 was concurrent with the reorganizing of the entire Victrola product line. These new models used conventional number designations rather than the previous Roman numerals, but they were essentially the same products that had been offered since 1906, the biggest change being modernized cabinet designs. While the 210 was a very basic model with minimal trim and features, it was quite affordable, and became an extremely popular machine in many middle-class homes. 'Low-boy' console-style phonograph cabinet styles were the rage in 1922, and the VV-210 proved to be a favorite with the buying public. All 210's had nickel-plated hardware, a semi-automatic brake and a two-spring motor. VV-210's were produced in a choice of a mahogany, walnut or oak veneer. The original 1922 selling price was $100.00, which equates to approximately $2,000.00 in today's money. Based on factory documentation, a total of 200,000 Victrola 210's were produced; but based on serial numbers of surviving examples, it is quite likely that considerably more were made. VV-210 models with serial numbers as high as 230,000 have been reported; these late examples usually have suffix letters ("E" or "F") after the serial number indicating that they were intended for export, and may have not been included in surviving factory production summaries. The affordable and well-designed 210 was certainly a major success for the company; but when sales of Victrolas began to slow in favor of radio, Victor failed to respond by reducing their production output. In spite of lagging sales, tens of thousands of these machines continued to come off the assembly lines until the large network of dealers and distributors were bursting at the seams with unsold Victrolas. Production of the VV-210 was further decreased until it was finally terminated in the late fall of 1925. Due to this massive overproduction, it is quite likely that many VV-210 machines made in late 1923 and 1924 were not actually sold until Victor's well-advertised "half-price" sale was announced in the summer of 1925. For more information on Victor's financial crisis of 1924-1925 and the overproduction of phonographs, please click here. Electric versions (VE) of the 210 were also produced in late 1924, but this was not a popular choice; only about 200 electric VE-210's were made. A few "radio-adaptable" model VV-S-210 models were also produced near the end of the model run with a dedicated space for mounting a small radio on the left-hand side of the cabinet. Due to the large volume of machines that were originally produced, and fact that these were basic, entry-level models, the VV-210 (and many similar flat-top console Victrola models) are typically shunned by collectors today. They are simply too basic in design, and far too many were produced to be considered 'collectible'.

The survival database currently shows the earliest existent VV-210 to be S/N 531 and the latest to be S/N 197558 (higher serial numbers have been documented, all with export suffix letters after the serial number). Only two surviving VE-210 have been documented to date. Only 2 surviving VV-S-210 examples have been logged to date.

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