The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So far as I know, the finish on my 810 is all original. I bought it from another collector who usually didn't do much if any restoration to his machines. It was pretty dirty when I got it, so I doubt that he ever touched it. I didn't know how it actually looked until I cleaned it up. Considerable Kotton Kleanser and elbow grease later, it looks like this. The gold finish on all the interior parts is also quite nice. Original grille cloth, too.

Wow, you got a real beauty there! Would like to see more pics of it, especially the motor board and crank hole escutcheon. I'm still struggling with mine. Can't find anyone with the complete escutcheon with the bolts. You can't buy those #5 bolts today in the right size. And how would you install the crank hole escutcheon if you can't put your hand behind the back plate so you can screw the bolts in? Because of the door pockets and lid spring, you can't put your hand in there, so I guess you would have to glue the back plate to a stick and put it in there, and then try to screw the bolts in? BTW, my 800 model sounds great!

Greg, your 810 is indeed beautiful. First one I've seen.

Clay

Marcapra - please post a picture of your Brunswick Cortez and your opinion of its sound quality vs. your 8-35. I drove out to Pittsburg earlier this year to acquire a Cortez and was a little disappointed in its sound against my 8-30. But the Cortez is a beautiful machine and it is a keeper. And - Greg your 810 is indeed beautiful.
Thanks
Jim

Yes, I have been intending to do that. I have a Cortez, a Viva Tonal 800, and a Victrola 8-35. Maybe I should really do it and have a battle of the machines by posting all three on YouTube playing the same record! I'll get to work on it tomorrow. Marc.

OrthoSean wrote:I own a 711. I'm pretty sure the only difference between the 710 and the 711 is the motor. The 711 has a very heavy duty Garrard motor in it. This particular machine that I have was sold in upstate NY when it was new. I don't know of any reason why they went to the Garrard motor, but it appears to have been later in production if I were to hazard a guess.

Sean

Sean,

Going back and looking through this thread reminds me of a question I've had. Does your 711 have an automatic, or semi-automatic shut off? My 710 has none of any kind or any indication it ever had one.

While I am not certain, I get the impression from some old advertising that I have seen that the 711 came out about a year after the 710 and was likely a replacement for it.

Clay

I had a very fine looking 810 at one point.. It as described was very heavy.. For some reason I don't recall the horn being configured the way the photo shows.. I recall it all coming out on one side, using the left full side for a panel and the rest of the horn curving to the right side. It was decidedly directional in that you could hear the fuller tones on one side that than the other. As to the sound, I found it to be easily the equal of the credenza. Here as well I believe I remember reading that the critics of the time tended to think the columbia had a bit of sound advantage over the victor of the period. My memory is probably faulty, still that horn just doesn't seem to be the same. Could there possibly have been a change in the design at some point to try to correct the sound from being directional to one side?

Larry

FloridaClay wrote:Sean,

Going back and looking through this thread reminds me of a question I've had. Does your 711 have an automatic, or semi-automatic shut off? My 710 has none of any kind or any indication it ever had one.

While I am not certain, I get the impression from some old advertising that I have seen that the 711 came out about a year after the 710 and was likely a replacement for it.

Clay

Clay,

Mine has a semi-automatic brake. The 711 could very well have been a replacement? I could be mistaken, but I'd almost swear I've seen ads for both models that date very close together. Perhaps they 710 was phased out and the 711 in. My 711 is in storage and has been for a couple of years. Hopefully by the time I finish my downsizing I'll have a spot for it in the house, while I had it in here for awhile, I was really amazed by the sound and the appearance, it's just a nice machine!

Sean

Larry,

I am the owner of the Columbia Viva Tonal 800 depicted in this thread. I have seen several 810's as well as my 800 and I have not seen that directional horn you are talking about. My horn seems to project straight out rather than to the right. Could you have had a British Viva-Tonal? They had different designs. I have done some research on the semi-automatic stops. After talking to several owners of the top 810 and 800 models, I have determined that the first ones out in 1926 did not have the stops, and later on they got the stops.

marcapra wrote:Larry,

I am the owner of the Columbia Viva Tonal 800 depicted in this thread. I have seen several 810's as well as my 800 and I have not seen that directional horn you are talking about. My horn seems to project straight out rather than to the right. Could you have had a British Viva-Tonal? They had different designs. I have done some research on the semi-automatic stops. After talking to several owners of the top 810 and 800 models, I have determined that the first ones out in 1926 did not have the stops, and later on they got the stops.

With regard to the stops, that matches what I think went on as well with the 710/711s. The 610, 600, 710, 700, 810 and 800 models were introduced in July 1926. See attach. (The lower of the 2 files is the first page and the upper is the continuation.) I am still looking for information on exactly when the subsequent 11s were introduced and what the changes were in ads or articles published at the time to confirm--but apparently some motor changes and the addition of the stops.

Clay