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Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:36 pm
by emerson
Without a doubt, a beautiful piece to have in the collection and happy that you got it before it was turned into a wine rack. I have been looking for an Emerson Louis XV and no luck as of yet-----most of the time "wanted" machines that I have found have been in fair shape----the Sonora is in BEAUTIFUL as found condition. Congrats.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 1:46 pm
by VanEpsFan1914
A nice Sonora! I think the ornate 1920s consoles display well and this one is a lovely machine.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:40 pm
by tictalk
At 53" tall this Sonora may be a little to tall to be considered a console. It has the wood tone arm and a huge 4 spring gold plated motor. Its a little dusty I just drug it out of storage. To your point of consoles being looked down upon is the Victrola 330 which is absolutely beautifully designed graceful cabinet.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 6:53 pm
by Django
tictalk wrote:At 53" tall this Sonora may be a little to tall to be considered a console. It has the wood tone arm and a huge 4 spring gold plated motor. Its a little dusty I just drug it out of storage. To your point of consoles being looked down upon is the Victrola 330 which is absolutely beautifully designed graceful cabinet.
That is an amazing machine. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:30 pm
by audiophile102
Django wrote:tictalk wrote:At 53" tall this Sonora may be a little to tall to be considered a console. It has the wood tone arm and a huge 4 spring gold plated motor. Its a little dusty I just drug it out of storage. To your point of consoles being looked down upon is the Victrola 330 which is absolutely beautifully designed graceful cabinet.
That is an amazing machine. Thanks for sharing.
I agree, amazing.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 10:41 pm
by marcapra
one interesting fact about Sonora is that in 1919, Sonora bought the furniture company that had been making mostly record and cylinder cabinets, The Herzog Furniture Co., which is the same company that made the first Amberola 1A cabinets for Edison.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 5:21 pm
by phonogfp
Here's an earlier thread on these Sonora consoles:
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ary#p33972
Beautiful Louis XV!
George P.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 9:23 pm
by Django
Do you still have the William and Mary and is the Elite in the basement? That walnut is really special.
Walnut is becoming a popular stringed instrument tonewood these days. Having a horn made of a nice resonant wood should add a nice quality to the tone.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 10:35 am
by phonogfp
Django wrote:
Do you still have the William and Mary and is the Elite in the basement? That walnut is really special.
Walnut is becoming a popular stringed instrument tonewood these days. Having a horn made of a nice resonant wood should add a nice quality to the tone.
Yes, the William & Mary is still here (I'm not moving it!), and the Elite is indeed in the basement!
George P.
Re: Sonora Louis XV and other under appreciated machines
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 11:12 am
by Victor VII
Sonora's close relationship with Herzog cabinet company is no doubt a factor in the striking presence of their upright and console units. The bombe cabinet models (and many of these consoles that forum members are discussing with great frequency) give these Sonora's major presence in any home or collection. The quality of the veneers and the more robust scaling of the hardware (including wooden tonearms) adds to the effect--IMHO puts them up there aesthetically with Victor's counterparts.