Question about Victor Zon-O-Phone reproducer

[jboger]

Any chance this was originally a back-mount reproducer? It looks like I could easily switch between front- and back-mount reproducers by swapping out the back. That's not the case with the Exhibition reproducer, which is what this Victor Zon-O-Phone reproducer looks like. A back-mount Exhibition reproducer requires some serious modification to convert to a front-mount. Thanks!

John

[JerryVan]

I believe that's a legitimate upgrade from the Concert V reproducer. I've seen many of them. If an Exhibition were adapted in a similar fashion, it would be a no more serious modification than converting this Zonophone example.

[Jerry B.]

"I believe that's a legitimate upgrade from the Concert V reproducer. I've seen many of them. If an Exhibition were adapted in a similar fashion, it would be a no more serious modification than converting this Zonophone example."

I can't answer the original question about the Zonophone sound box but an Exhibition is not so easily changed from a rear to a long throat. For some time you could buy an inexpensive adaptor to make a tapered arm Exhibition into a long throat but they were definitely not changed with a replica of an original Victor part. Plus you now had a modified Exhibition that was substantially heaver than a factory long throat Exhibition. Ron Sitko offered a machined back piece for about $60 plus your tapered arm back piece in exchange. Ron would then machine the exchanged piece for the next long throat. Next time you look at a long throat Exhibition you'll notice how the back side is dished in where the tube attaches.

Jerry B.

[jboger]

Yes, I've seen modified Exhibition reproducers. When I look at this Zon-O-Phone, I ask myself, Why didn't Victor design the Exhibition the same way? That is, make the difference between a long-throat (front-mount) and tonearm (rear-mount) reproducer the same way. Just swap out the rear flanges to convert between the two. In fact, my Victor Zon-O-Phone reproducer looks like I could put a rubber flange on the back and mount it on almost any Victor machine.

John

[JerryVan]

"I believe that's a legitimate upgrade from the Concert V reproducer. I've seen many of them. If an Exhibition were adapted in a similar fashion, it would be a no more serious modification than converting this Zonophone example."

I can't answer the original question about the Zonophone sound box but an Exhibition is not so easily changed from a rear to a long throat.
Jerry B.

I was not suggesting that making an Exhibition into a replica of a long throat would be as easy. I was simply stating that converting a "taper arm" Exhibition for use on a front mount, by means of a similar adapter, would be a simple matter. In other words, swapping out the rubber back flange with a long throat adapter, ala the Zonophone, would be a simple conversion. But no, it would not resemble the "real thing".

[JerryVan]

Yes, I've seen modified Exhibition reproducers. When I look at this Zon-O-Phone, I ask myself, Why didn't Victor design the Exhibition the same way? That is, make the difference between a long-throat (front-mount) and tonearm (rear-mount) reproducer the same way. Just swap out the rear flanges to convert between the two. In fact, my Victor Zon-O-Phone reproducer looks like I could put a rubber flange on the back and mount it on almost any Victor machine.

John

Because the long throat was designed first, with no knowledge that they'd eventually have a rubber back flange that they could possibly interchange with. Whereas, when Victor took over Zonophone, they apparently made the "Victoresque" Zono reproducers backwards compatible with the earlier Zonophone front mounts by use of the adapter.