Today's Find: Sonora Hepplewhite Canterbury

[Oceangoer1]

I first saw this machine 3 years ago in a local antique store. At that time, I didn't own a phonograph yet, so this could have been my first one! The price was too high for me at the time ($250 which happened to be the price stamped on the original price tag, which was missing when I came to pick it up today ) So periodically, I would drop in and ask the price. The price dropped each time until I couldn't wait any longer and I ended up getting it for a great price.

Part of the reason that I had to have this one is that it is technically a Period Model! (the second cheapest one the first cheapest being the Sonora "Marquette"). Everything is present, just disassembled. These are some preliminary pictures and this one will be at the back of the project queue for a while. I'm just glad that I rescued it!

This is the Sonora "Hepplewhite Canterbury", which from looking at ads from about 1919/1920, was part of the Period line up. It isn't too ornate, but will still present well. It has nickel plated hardware and lacks the wooden tonearm. I always thought that to be a Sonora Period Model, it had to have gold hardware and that wooden tonearm, BUT I think the real determining factor for a Sonora Period Model is the wooden lid stay. I would love to know if this is true!

Pictures should correct themselves once clicked on.

[phonogfp]

I'd be surprised if Sonora differentiated between its Period Models and the others through the use of a wooden lid stay. Of course, I've been surprised before...!

It would be safer to simply go by what the company included in its Period Model catalogs and advertisements. Here's an old thread that shows some material (scroll to top):

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... del#p33991

On looking over the old thread, I don't see your machine pictured. I have scanned the relevant pages of the 1922 Sonora "Periods" catalog and posted them below. Click on either image to enlarge. Click twice to make it huge.

Personally, I think Sonora is an under-appreciated product. I'm happy to report that a book-length work on Sonora will very soon be posted to the Antique Phonograph Society web site. In addition, full edited scans of many catalogs such as the 1922 Sonora "Periods" will be added.

Congratulations on your acquisition!

George P.

[Oceangoer1]

Thanks for the picture of that catalog George! I didn't think this model was a period model either as I didn't see it on the page (and its not very fancy at all). Here is where I saw it listed as a period in some advertisements and on several pages of the Talking Machine World from 1922.

https://books.google.com/books?id=HNFMA ... ph&f=false

https://archive.org/stream/talkingmachi ... 1/mode/2up

[estott]

Very plain, but it does have nice lines- if there is some decent grain in the veneer it should look fine.

[briankeith]

I just got dizzy looking at the photos

[phonogfp]

I didn't think this model was a period model either as I didn't see it on the page (and its not very fancy at all).

There's no question that your machine is a Period Model. The pages I scanned and posted above are from the 1922 Period catalog. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

George P.

[estott]

I didn't think this model was a period model either as I didn't see it on the page (and its not very fancy at all).

There's no question that your machine is a Period Model. The pages I scanned and posted above are from the 1922 Period catalog. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

George P.

It seems the equivalent of the Edison H 19 Hepplewhite - a very simple cabinet, but still"Period"

[Oceangoer1]

I found the original warranty paper in the bottom of the cabinet! It shows that this machine was purchased on December 13, 1923 (if I'm reading that first date correctly). It might have been a Christmas present for someone.

[Oceangoer1]

This cabinet has been outside airing out for a few days. As seen in the preliminary pictures, the record storage file folders are in pieces (not sure at this point if I want to make reproduction ones, so I'm saving all the number tabs and the hardware).

Lo and behold that sneaky little price tag was hiding among the pieces! And as an edit for the first post, the original price and the original price the antique store wanted was $225.

[Steve Levi]

That's great you found your tag! Is always a plus when you score some little extra with a machine. Like the Sonora certificate too. Steve