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Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:25 pm
by JerryVan
Really scarce machine! Condition is a bit iffy however. Still....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victrola-victor ... 1438.l2649

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 1:28 pm
by JerryVan
A few more pics...

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:15 pm
by 52089
Scarce indeed but needing lots of work. Also appears to be missing the electric reproducer head, which was kind of the whole point of creating this machine in the first place!

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 3:29 pm
by JerryVan
52089 wrote:Scarce indeed but needing lots of work. Also appears to be missing the electric reproducer head, which was kind of the whole point of creating this machine in the first place!

Yup, she's got issues. Currently pretty darn cheap however.

(BTW, not mine.)

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 10:40 am
by chrisg
Near me, what do ya know

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:25 pm
by Phototone
So, this model can play both acoustically, and (with magnetic pick-up head) electrically? Thats very curious.

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:52 pm
by OrthoSean
Yes, they can. Charley Hummel had a nicely restored example a few years ago. The sound was very impressive.

Sean

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:24 pm
by JerryVan
Phototone wrote:So, this model can play both acoustically, and (with magnetic pick-up head) electrically? Thats very curious.

Yes, but either way, they still play through the Orthophonic horn. The electric speaker driver uses what appears to be the same type diaphragm that the acoustic reproducer uses.

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 11:14 am
by Phototone
JerryVan wrote:
Phototone wrote:So, this model can play both acoustically, and (with magnetic pick-up head) electrically? Thats very curious.

Yes, but either way, they still play through the Orthophonic horn. The electric speaker driver uses what appears to be the same type diaphragm that the acoustic reproducer uses.
Why would Victor produce a machine like this? It has no radio, so no actual "need" for electric playback.

Re: Orthophonic 8-60 on eBay

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 11:34 am
by barnettrp21122
Phototone wrote:
JerryVan wrote:
Phototone wrote:So, this model can play both acoustically, and (with magnetic pick-up head) electrically? Thats very curious.

Yes, but either way, they still play through the Orthophonic horn. The electric speaker driver uses what appears to be the same type diaphragm that the acoustic reproducer uses.
Why would Victor produce a machine like this? It has no radio, so no actual "need" for electric playback.
That's a good question! In the book "Look For The Dog" Robert Baumbach's description reads "This bizarre instrument...using a single tone arm with two sound boxes, the 8-60 offered its indecisive owner the option of hearing records reproduced in the traditional acoustical manner, or in conjunction with the newest electronic technology."
This was during the final boom period for Victor and its Orthophonic line of machines. Many different combinations were offered, with buyers and money being plentiful before the 1929 crash.