Victor Talking Machine - World's Largest Orthophonic?

[wheelgun357]

God i need a Credenza that big,,,,, where can i get one....

[brianu]

I had never heard of that before... and I'm quite certain that, unfortunately, it's no longer here.... too bad the article doesn't note on which building the machine was placed (impossible to tell from the photo).

you mentioned penthouse, though... I was told that the original idea was to have a few higher end penthouse units in the tower where the stained glass windows are, but it never happened - at least not at this point - and the thing remains empty (but for the tower's first floor at the roof level, where the gym is located).

[gramophoneshane]

Finally! A Credenza that can out-perform an HMV202 lol.

[phonophan79]

Wow! I would imagine there has to be more documentation on this?

[estott]

With vacuum tube amplification wouldn't this be considered an Electrola and not an Orthophonic? At best it would be a hybrid.

Damm interesting though- but where's the big dog?

(edit) come to think of it, Victor did use the term "Orthophonic" well into the LP era.

[phonophan79]

What is the source and date of that article?

[Sidewinder]

Here's a hint I think ? Same day, but 30 years later

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMNO2Kcv ... re=related

[estott]

No, that's not an April Fool fake- that isn't a standard Credenza case, and there are those devices which must be to open and close the doors. Manufacturers built a lot of huge scale versions of their products for publicity:

"World's Largest Stove" by the Garland Co:
http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp? ... =S0661.htm

World's Largest Underwood Typewriter (and other Big Stuff)
http://www.agilitynut.com/mim/4.html

[OrthoFan]

Hi Walt:

Many thanks for posting this! I've heard about the giant Orthophonic Victrola that was built on the roof of the Victor building in Camden, but have never seen an image. I've also come across a few references to other Giant Orthophonic Victrolas exhibited at special events, such as the 1927 Portland Rose Festival:

"Rose Festival program measures 6" by 9".

This Rose Festival "Official Souvenir Program" dates to 1927. The program lists the events which lasted from June 13 to 18, 1927. The cover advertises the "Mammoth Pageant Rosaria" and the booklet contains "complete descriptive and pictorial program of all Rose Festival events and of Pageant Rosaria, Season 1927." The souvenir program sold for .25.

The program lists all of the many and varied events. The Pageant Rosaria was, indeed, a very big deal. There are 24 pages devoted to the pageant. The lists of characters and musicians is incredible and long! One very interesting item was a free giant concert by a "giant orthophonic Victrola at Festival Center."
FROM -- Program For Sale on Ebay

Another reference -- Spokesman Review, Aug. 1927

I'd imagine this used the same technology as the Auditorium Orthophonic Victrola, mentioned here:

Orthophonic Speakers.pdf

(886.24 KiB) Downloaded 223 times

[estott]

Sorry Walt, but I don't agree with you on this one.