The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

[quote="Edisone"] Probably intended for the 2-65 portable[quote]

These were certainly replacements for earlier machines (although of course they will fit a 2-65). I can't remember where it was that I saw trade ads for these that were sold as replacements for "failing older soundboxes", built even with "improved sound and materials". I may have saved this thing someplace, I found it in one of the online trade journals just after I'd picked up my 8-35 and was curious as to why it not only had the one "new" in the box, but the other on the machine itself was also one of these. My 10-50 also had one on it (no complaints here, either, I've left them as is!). Since both of these machines came from original owner families, I know these were replaced likely in the early 30s. The 8-35s original owner was using his machine well into the 30s, too, judging by the record catalogs and records / needle tins and packs it came with. He must have panicked when his original reproducer started crumbling and bought TWO just to be safe!

Anyway, I'm glad you agree about the sound, I really like them!

Sean

I find it interesting that as early as before WW-II, folks started having problems with failing pot-metal, and others of us have machines whose original pot-metal parts are still in decent to excellent condition (I guess we should offer prayers of thanks to our respective deities ! )

At any rate, bad pot-metal alloy / Pot-metal disease is not limited to talking machines...

Pre-Depression automobile collectors also face this issue - particularly with parts such as carburetors (particularly certain Stromberg carbs), fuel pumps, vacuum-tank tops, distributor/timer castings, starter / generator end-frames, etc.

I have read that many Teens & Twenties vintage Chevrolets (four cylinder) were sidelined due to failure of a pot-metal die-casting on the generator end-frame that I think also involved the distributor drive ( both devices driven off the timing chain?).

Fords were not prone to such failures, as far as I know, because Old Henry did not utilize pot-metal die-castings in the Model T and Model A...

Has anyone ever entertained the notion of reproducing the Orthophonic Sound box in a "safe" material such as Aluminum, or modern zinc die-casting alloy ?



Frank

A good question Frank.

There are reproduction brass housings available. I am having an Orthophonic reproducer made up for me now using them. When it comes back I am going to be very interested indeed in how the sound quality and the weight compare with a pot metal original.

Your thoughts that something like aluminum or zinc might produce something even better are interesting. I confess to knowing next to nothing about the properties of those metals as they might affect this usage.

Clay