Victor Orthophonic Horn Designs

[TN Allen]

Are the Victor Orthophonic Horn designs available? I've seen images of the cabinet interiors, but would like to see measured drawings. I have a Credenza and Granada, but so little is visible without disassembling the cabinets, which don't want to do.

[PeterF]

You used to be able to buy a functional scale model:

http://ampli-phone.com/Welcome.html

[TN Allen]

Is that really a Victor replica? I prefer drawings of the originals.
I've attached 2 phone horns I did a while ago.

[PeterF]

It absolutely is a scale replica, copied from an actual vintage Victor counter demonstration model.

Read the entire site for further details.

[JohnM]

Bob Baumbach produced the Ampli-Phones. I have one in transparent plastic. The horn is sized to be resonant with the speaker in an early iPhone. Unfortunately, new iPhones don’t fit into the throat, and the speaker output has changed so the balance of the formula would be off.

[TN Allen]

"Read the entire site for further details."

I've looked twice without finding mention of Victor Orthophonic.
Can you provide more specific information. Perhaps I've overlooked the obvious.

[PeterF]

I’m sorry about that - I thought I remembered Bob making reference to it on there someplace, but it’s not there.

I think you may be trying to make a 3D printed version of the horn; in such case I’d recommend that you approach him to see whether he might be enticed to share his manufacturing drawings with you.

[TN Allen]

No problem. No, I'm not interested in making a 3D printed version of the Orthophonic horn. It's much too large, and in that I'm working on a milled version of the Wilson and Webb horn, I've already taken on quite a bit. I'm only interested in seeing and understanding the Victor design. Thank you for the reference however to the phone horn.

[PeterF]

It seemed like you wanted to make a small version, like the two you showed. Bob Baumbach’s device is an exactly accurate (and functional) scaled down orthophonic horn.

[TN Allen]

It's good if you think I might replicate it, but the spiral W&W horn in my other thread is enough for now.

The first time I heard the Granada I was amazed, and the Credenza was even more impressive. I'd like to understand more of how the Victor people developed their design. I suspect it was an interesting mix of science, trial and error, and ultimately intuition. I'd enjoy reading a contemporary account/history of the progress toward the Orthophonic sound. The result certainly remains impressive.