Rhode Island CL Viva-Tonal 7-something Rescue

[Cody K]

I don't normally post in this section, but I can't have this one and at the price of fifty bucks it would seem to be a prime candidate for falling into the hands of someone who might want to turn it into a bar or a doghouse or something. It's battered, but looks complete and restorable. A few veneer problems look to be the worst of it: https://providence.craigslist.org/atq/5429376436.html

[estott]

Also seems to be missing the drop down front door- but still a bargain

[Panatropia]

That appears to be a Model 711 (no slurpee, though) if I recall, the door dropped down and slid underneath. However, I see two hinges, so the door probably is missing. Still, a great sounding machine with a duralumin diaphragm and split re-entrant horn. Not up to Orthophonic standards, but a fascinating technological artifact.

[Cody K]

In the picture of the decal, the model number is very hard to see, but yeah, it's a 711. This has the wood horn that splits left and right, I believe, and I've always been curious about that. I think the door may be present, just off its rocker. There's an off-angle in the picture that I think is due to the door being tucked way in and laying flat.

One thing that's odd about this is, it's missing the decorative painting and green details. I wonder where they went? The machine looks like it's been sitting around getting banged up for some time. Maybe someone quite a while ago decided the decoration was too gaudy for their taste.

The most obvious cosmetic problem with this one is that fairly large hunk out of the veneer above the left door, but there looks to be a ripple at the top of that section, so maybe the whole section, if in fact it's loose, could be replaced on both sides with new veneer. Replacing just the missing piece would be a bigger challenge, since it would involve feathering in a simulation of the blended finish.

I'm curious about this but I'm not even tryna go look at it. I'm sure I'd bring it home. Here's one that Matt Brown sold on another forum in 2011:

711-1.jpg (32.16 KiB) Viewed 1136 times

It can sure be a nice looking machine when buffed up. I'd like a Viva-Tonal, but I'm holding out for an 800 model. Someday. No time soon, though. But this 711, rough as it is, will be a great bargain for someone who wants it. I just hope they want it to restore, not to turn into an espresso maker.

[Oceangoer1]

This is a gorgeous machine and WELL worth restoring. I hope someone gets it....It will be quite a rewarding piece!

[Edisone]

Although the machine looks like a 700 (plain version of 710, supposedly in walnut) the decal appears to say " 701 " - which I vaguely recall indicates a redesign of the motor. I can't find the source for that memory of mine - but the decal surely looks like 701.

ps - Okay, now I remember - 701 = 700 with auto brake - note the post on the tone-arm. The 710 became 711, for the same reason.

[Cody K]

That's interesting, thanks! I had thought the decal showed 701 as well -- though it's pretty hard to read the number at all. A quick search for 701 came up with a whole lot of nothing, so 711 was the next best guess. I guess the 701 designation explains the "missing" painted decorations, too.

[FloridaClay]

Although the machine looks like a 700 (plain version of 710, supposedly in walnut) the decal appears to say " 701 " - which I vaguely recall indicates a redesign of the motor. I can't find the source for that memory of mine - but the decal surely looks like 701.

ps - Okay, now I remember - 701 = 700 with auto brake - note the post on the tone-arm. The 710 became 711, for the same reason.

That's interesting information. I have a 710 and always wondered why no auto-brake at that late date on a fairly upscale model.

Clay

Oh, and because of the way they are designed the drop down and slide under front doors just invite being broken loose by somebody or something putting weight on them when they are extended. I had to do some door repairs on my 710 because of that and get a missing hinge mechanism from George Vollema. If the door for this example is missing he might possibly have one.