Zonophone questions
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- Victor O
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Zonophone questions
Hi! I'm looking for information about this Zonophone, starting with what model it is and when it would have been made. Does the horn look correct? I'm pretty sure the crank is a reproduction, but everything else could be original. Does it appear that way from this one photo? If anyone has an image of what the correct reproducer should look like, I'd be grateful if you would post it. And though I hate to ask, I have no idea what would be a fair price to offer for such a machine, so if anyone has any thoughts on that, please PM me, as I don't want to clutter the board with talk of value. Thank you! (Also, any tips for rotating the picture so it's easier for people to view?)
- phonogfp
- Victor Monarch Special
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Re: Zonophone questions
The machine appears to be a Zonophone Concert from 1905/06. Everything looks right on it. Some nickel may have been re-plated, as it looks awfully good in places.
By the time this machine was built, the company was transitioning from the V Concert sound box to one based on Victor's Exhibition.
I hope this helps.
George P.
By the time this machine was built, the company was transitioning from the V Concert sound box to one based on Victor's Exhibition.
I hope this helps.
George P.
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- Victor Monarch Special
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Re: Zonophone questions
It looks like a very nice machine to me. It's an interesting rear mount Zonophone that retains the fancy cast metal insert like the earlier front mount Zonophones. Actually the whole box, motor, crank, and turntable are the same as the front mount Zonophone Concert. An identical rear mount Zonophone Concert was my first Zonophone and its always held a prominent position in my collection.
Had Zonophone started the transition to rear mount machines before being acquired by Victor?
What year did Victor acquire Zonophone?
Thanks, Jerry Blais
Had Zonophone started the transition to rear mount machines before being acquired by Victor?
What year did Victor acquire Zonophone?
Thanks, Jerry Blais
- phonogfp
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 8091
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
- Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
- Location: New York's Finger Lakes
Re: Zonophone questions
Technically, Victor didn't acquire Zonophone - - Eldridge Johnson did. That occurred in October 1903.Jerry B. wrote:
Had Zonophone started the transition to rear mount machines before being acquired by Victor?
What year did Victor acquire Zonophone?
Thanks, Jerry Blais
Zonophone didn't offer Tapering Arm (backmount) machines until 1905.
George P.
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- Victor Monarch Special
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- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
- Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
- Location: Albany, Oregon
Re: Zonophone questions
Thanks George, you are a wealth of information. Jerry
- phonogfp
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 8091
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
- Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
- Location: New York's Finger Lakes
Re: Zonophone questions
Oh, I just make it up as I go along...
George P.

George P.
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- Victor I
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Re: Zonophone questions
I have never bought a Zonophone, mostly because I don't know very much about them. Personally, I would really be interested to hear what people think it's worth. Also, if it was made after Victor acquired the company, would be the nearest analog among their machines? A II?