Where to get horns made?

[winsleydale]

Firstly, I apologize in advance if this is the wrong spot for this question; I was sort of at a loss.

Okay, so here's my deal: I am going to build a phonograph for a friend of mine, around some parts that I already have (motor, speed control, brake, turntable, etc.) While I have inside horns, I would like this one to be in the old style with an outside horn. Only thing is, I can't find a horn! How should make one, or where can i get one made that won't break the bank? Looking for ½ inch OD at the throat, about 12 inches at the opening and maybe 20 inches long.

[ambrola]

Firstly, I apologize in advance if this is the wrong spot for this question; I was sort of at a loss.

Okay, so here's my deal: I am going to build a phonograph for a friend of mine, around some parts that I already have (motor, speed control, brake, turntable, etc.) While I have inside horns, I would like this one to be in the old style with an outside horn. Only thing is, I can't find a horn! How should make one, or where can i get one made that won't break the bank? Looking for ½ inch OD at the throat, about 12 inches at the opening and maybe 20 inches long.

There is a horn in the Yankee Trader section for 150.00. I doubt you will find one that cheap?

[winsleydale]

Well there's a thought. I just don't really want to have one shipped if avoidable (I know, it would have to be shipped anyway if it was made somewhere, but that's why I asked how to make one at home.)

[alang]

There should be several posts about how to make a horn from paper mache in the style of the British EMG machines. That might work for you as well? Good luck.

Andreas

[winsleydale]

Many thanks

[AZ*]

So you are cobbling together some parts to build a Frankenphone. While your friend may like it, most serious phonograph and gramophone collectors do not hold fakes in high regard.

[winsleydale]

Technically, yes. That is correct.

The way I see it, there are all these parts floating around, and yet, there will never be enough machines to put them in. Even if we saved every cabinet that was in existence, regardless of condition, we would still end up with more hardware than we knew what to do with.

It is true that we could let the parts sit in a warehouse or toolbox until we need them for an original machine, but that could take several more decades to get everything into a machine, and that's no fun.

As long as I know what I'm doing, and there's not something being built that purports to be original, what's the harm? I'm saving a nice motor from living a life of not being used. I'm practicing my woodworking skills for use on restoration of "real" machines. I'm making something that I will be proud of, and that my friend will cherish forever. As long as I carve "Built 2015 by Ryan Pakledinaz" into the inside of the case, there's no way that it could be mistaken for original.

Call it a frankenphone if you wish; you're not wrong. But it will also be something more than that.

[startgroove]

Winsley, Hooray for your bravery in choosing to go where no one else will go. I'm a collector in three areas, jukeboxes, radios and phonographs. Of those, jukebox and radio collectors seem to have evolved an open mind to rehousing old mechanisms and chassis's. I've seen some beautifully created cabinets, and I own both a jukebox and a radio that were recently built into custom designed cases. I would be very interested in seeing what you accomplish with this project, and I would encourage you to pursue it. Russie Ofria

[winsleydale]

Thank you for the kind words!

[need4art]

Just remember the fastest growing part of the car hobby is the "Rat Rod" which returns hot rodding to what it was when it started. Just don't tear down a good restoreable machine to get it parts- there's enough going on in the hobby in that area already. In fact at times I look at some machines and think what if a cabinet had been made with a bigger horn? Or could you take an Amberola 50 and fit it with a large outside horn or...

With good craft and woodworking skills something really nice could be made up from all those left over parts.

Think of it this way-a complete nicely made up working unit would be a lot more fun than a pile of parts.
Abe