"RCA Victor" marked Orthophonic Sound box...

[De Soto Frank]

I was very fortunate to obtain an RCA Victor Orthophonic Soundbox this week.

While it is a further evolution of the original Ortho reproducer (its original application was a portable), it has some interesting features:

> Round hole in the needle chuck ( no more fibre needles )

> no set-screws for the mounting bushing

> no phase plug - just the three-legged finger-guard cast into the throat of the back-plate.

> no "spider" on diaphragm: the "feet" are there, around the center "ridge", but the needle-bar is soldered to an eyelet in the center of the diaphragm itself. It would appear that a "spider" diaphragm simply had the spider clipped-off at the feet.

> Rubber cushions in the bearing pockets, don't know yet if there are washers within.

> brass /bronze screen over felt mute in outer cover.

I'm pretty confident no one has been into this box since it left Camden - there are no tool marks anywhere, or other signs of disturbance.


I am curious if anyone has done a comparison between "spider" and "non-spider" diaphragms, and noticed any significant differences in audio performance ?

[gramophone78]

A pic can certainly help to id it.. .

[De Soto Frank]

A pic can certainly help to id it.. .

I'll try to get to that... I'm one of those luddites who still avoids the smarty-phone... no one-touch photo uploads for me.

I'll shoot some pics, then download to the computer, then upload to the thread.

[gramophone78]

A pic can certainly help to id it.. .

I'll try to get to that... I'm one of those luddites who still avoids the smarty-phone... no one-touch photo uploads for me.

I'll shoot some pics, then download to the computer, then upload to the thread.

Your not alone Frank.....that's exactly what I still do... .

[bigshot]

That sounds like the sound box on my VV-2-65. It's a great sounding sound box.

[Oceangoer1]

The RCA marked Orthophonic reproducers were the last ones produced before they switched over to the Birch garbage. They were the ones that came with the model 2-65 portable, which is a great sounding portable by the way!

I have the exact same one described, and when my RCA OSB was rebuilt, I had a spider put in it because I wanted it for my Credenza. I have heard an original one without the spider (in person) and there is a definite improvement in the high register. Still enough bass, and midrange, but an overall clearer sound. I bet one would sound really nice on a later Orthophonic floor model with the metal horn, as I believe those were supposed to increase treble and clarity as compared to a wooden horn.

My favorite part about them is that they can be rebuilt pretty easily. They must have figured out a better formula for pot metal because they are usually found in stable condition.