The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Isn't it possible that the original motor/blower wasn't as loud as the Baker solution? The two originals that I have heard aren't that much louder than a standard Victor of the period.

TinfoilPhono wrote:I have an Auxetophone and yes, it is LOUD. Way, way too loud for a small room. It would be literally painful to listen to that in a confined cabin so you may well be right that it was just stored there and moved out to the open for performances.

It's certainly true that Sanfillipo's Auxetophone isn't very loud. But there's no way these would have sold at all, especially at $500, if they weren't louder than that originally. For sure it's possible that Baker's blower assemblies may be more efficient, but I have to think that original blowers were equal, or close to it, when new. Why it isn't today I have no clue. But a well-tuned Exhibition plays as loud as Jasper's Auxetophone and that could not have been true in the beginning of the 20th century or there would have been no market and certainly no press attention. Most of the era pictures I've seen are outdoors, usually with huge crowds. They had to be loud.