Mello Phonic Ruined?

[RolandVV-360]

Although the original posting on Pinterest is expired and long gone, I managed to get this screenshot from google, which shows what looks to be a Mello Phonic rip-off of the Victor Orthophonic 4-7. The text next to the photo states, "Victrola record player I refinished with a distressed black finish. Made a more modern look".

Sad

[Oceangoer1]

That is actually an Orthophonic VV 8-4, which is larger than a 4-7.

As a side note, I actually don't mind (as much) when phonographs are painted black, but only when they are not gutted in the process . I read somewhere on here that back then, you could order a phonograph in a black or ivory finish.

I actually thought it would be neat to find a higher end phonograph with a wrecked finish, paint it nicely in black or black lacquer, and then have a friend of mine do Oriental scenes on it.

-Connor

[OrthoFan]

Depending on the type of paint used, it's sometimes possible to "wash" it off, without stripping the entire finish.

When I acquired my Credenza, a previous owner had slathered brown enamel paint over some areas of the sides and front, and the entire lid, to hide scratches. I stripped the lid, but found that the paint applied to the sides and front was easily removable using a Scotch Scrubber Sponge and some Murphy's Oil Soap and warm water. (Wished I had done that to the lid, because I never was able to match the original finish !)

I told a local junk store owner, who had acquired a painted-over VV-XVI (gold paint!) about this, and he was able to remove all of the paint using this method. In this case, the original mahogany finish was in very good condition, and he only had to do some touch up work to make it look nearly new.

OrthoFan

[bigshot]

I don't know if that finish looks "modern". It looks dull to me.

[OrthoFan]

I've often wondered what these Ortho-Clones sounded like--the Melophonic models sold by Wards, the Tru-Phonic phonographs sold by Sears, and others.

I know that some of the Tru-Phonic phonographs were fitted with long, exponential style (non-folded) horns that used some type of baffle in the mouth section, while larger Melophonics employed a simple "straight" horn, with no taper, coupled to a long throat, as this photo indicates:

Capture.JPG (46.64 KiB) Viewed 1671 times

The few videos posted on YouTube show as-found models in obvious need of a sound box rebuild. In many cases, they're playing acoustic records, which don't provide a clue as to how they handled electrical recordings, or the turntable is spinning too fast, etc. From what I can tell, the posters are relatively clueless. I'm hoping, someday, some collector who actually knows something about acoustic phonographs will take the trouble to restore one, and post a good quality video.


OrthoFan

[RolandVV-360]

That is actually an Orthophonic VV 8-4, which is larger than a 4-7.

As a side note, I actually don't mind (as much) when phonographs are painted black, but only when they are not gutted in the process . I read somewhere on here that back then, you could order a phonograph in a black or ivory finish.

I actually thought it would be neat to find a higher end phonograph with a wrecked finish, paint it nicely in black or black lacquer, and then have a friend of mine do Oriental scenes on it.

-Connor

Oops. I assumed it was a Mellophonic because the design on the doors almost exactly matched the design on the doors of my Mellophonic ripoff of the 4-3. I'm not to familiar with the Orthophonic era of Victor, so please mind the previous lack of knowledge.

[OrthoFan]

... I'm not to familiar with the Orthophonic era of Victor, so please mind the previous lack of knowledge.

This site provides an excellent primer -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/

Quick link to the various models -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/new_page_2.htm

OrthoFan

[RolandVV-360]

... I'm not to familiar with the Orthophonic era of Victor, so please mind the previous lack of knowledge.

This site provides an excellent primer -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/

Quick link to the various models -- http://www.victor-victrola.com/new_page_2.htm

OrthoFan

Ah, yes. The finest of resources. The Victor Victrola page is the trustiest website to find information on any Victor phonograph. And by the way, relating to your question about how Melophonic sounds, I own one myself. It doesn't have the original reproducer, so it is a difference, but I can record a video of it playing and put the link up here if you'd like.

[OrthoFan]

Ah, yes. The finest of resources. The Victor Victrola page is the trustiest website to find information on any Victor phonograph. And by the way, relating to your question about how Melophonic sounds, I own one myself. It doesn't have the original reproducer, so it is a difference, but I can record a video of it playing and put the link up here if you'd like.

That would be great. Is the replacement reproducer an "Orthophonic era" one?

OF

[RolandVV-360]

Ah, yes. The finest of resources. The Victor Victrola page is the trustiest website to find information on any Victor phonograph. And by the way, relating to your question about how Melophonic sounds, I own one myself. It doesn't have the original reproducer, so it is a difference, but I can record a video of it playing and put the link up here if you'd like.

That would be great. Is the replacement reproducer an "Orthophonic era" one?

OF

I have an off-brand Ortho reproducer, but the gaskets are bad and it has a scratch in it's tone, so I will be using a No. 2 reproducer.