The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well firstly thanks for all your input. I noticed on the video of the homemade orthophonic that the sides of the horn were not curved like in the diagram. Would this possibly a effect sound quality and volume? Also I think I am leaning towards building a folded internal exponential horn but I really have to say Odeons BigBertha horn blew my mind away! I could only dream of building something like that! Does anyone have a idea of how big a good size for the horn would be? Thanks once again!

Brad

David,

Please forgive me my ignorance. As a European I'm not very much accustomed to the correct American terminology. I do know that Victor also used the 'ortho' word for its electrical recordings (although afaik they only printed it only on the label starting with the scroll series?).

Some years ago, I found this picture of the model of a re-entrant horn on the net.

Sadly I couldn´t remember the side I found it...
In the Popular Mechanics Magazine I found this DIY Horn - also nice to fit with a gramophone I think...

JohnM wrote:The term 'Orthophonic' literally means 'straight sound', only somewhat ironically.

"Ortho-" derives from Greek "orthos," "correct" (adjective). "Orthophonic" means "correct sound." Note the parallel with orthochromatic black and white film: "of, producing, or having tone values corresponding to natural colors" (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary); "orthochromatic" = "correct color." Orthochromatic film, however, was not equally sensitive to all colors, specifically blue; the later panchromatic ("all color") black and white film was an improvement in that regard.