The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just bought this Sonora Symphony. As you can see by the pictures this thing is Huge! It is in wonderful shape, and after a couple of hours with Go-Jo the years of dirt and grime washed away. I know that this and other models were Sonora's answer to the Orthophonic Victor, but was this model the largest? If not I would hate to house one Bigger! This is going to force me to dispose of a bunch of duplicate machines. I'll keep you all posted Ed

That's quite an impressive phonograph!
Have you checked the horn configuration? Do you have a Credenza or other ortho machine to compare the sound?
Thanks for posting.
Bob

barnettrp21122 wrote:That's quite an impressive phonograph!
Have you checked the horn configuration? Do you have a Credenza or other ortho machine to compare the sound?
Thanks for posting.
Bob

Hi Bob, Yes I have several orthophonic Victrolas as well as Brunswick and Sonora models. The horn configuration on the Sonora seems to be a folded horn a little larger than my Credenza. I did drag the Credenza out of the "Backyard Museum" and played them side by side with an acoustical record, orthophonic record and a 1940's electrical recording. To my ear the sonora preformed as well if not better than the Credenza. The Cabinet on the Sonora dwarfs the Credenza, and the horn on the Sonora is the same size as the Credenza only vertically positioned. Ed

Nice machine. I've never seen one of those before. Where do you put so many large machines!
I know I go for the big victors and I'm always wondering where I am going to put them all!

Im a big fan of sonora,shes a beaut .

Skihawx wrote:Nice machine. I've never seen one of those before. Where do you put so many large machines!
I know I go for the big victors and I'm always wondering where I am going to put them all!

Skihawx;
This is my problem, I'm running out of room! The garage is full and the Buildings I have built in the back yard as well as in th e house are full! I realize I need to part with some of the duplicate machines (four Edison C-250s, ten VV-XIs, five VV-XIVs ect). I have about 8 VV-XVIs in different style changes as well as 2 VV-XVIIs but these I'll probably keep just because, like you I love the big Victors! Dosen't look like I've finished collecting, hope you don't see me on "Hoarders" on TV. Ed

STARR-OLA wrote:Im a big fan of sonora,shes a beaut .

STARR-OLA I too love Sonoras. The ones from the "Orthophonic Era" sound as good as the Victrolas. The only ones that rival the sound in either of these is the Brunswick. These things have incredible sound. Ed

That is a Beautiful looking machine!

Altona1 wrote:That is a Beautiful looking machine!

Thanks, I have used up a pack of 100 needles playing it today! It sounds Great! Wish you could hear it! Ed

I you can do me a favour, I wamt to see the close up picture of the reproducer, front and back, please to see if it is the same with the our orthophonic style Sonora when I was young. It is just the reproducer that I can vividly remember.

Thanks,

Jim

EFearing wrote:I just bought this Sonora Symphony. As you can see by the pictures this thing is Huge! It is in wonderful shape, and after a couple of hours with Go-Jo the years of dirt and grime washed away. I know that this and other models were Sonora's answer to the Orthophonic Victor, but was this model the largest? If not I would hate to house one Bigger! This is going to force me to dispose of a bunch of duplicate machines. I'll keep you all posted Ed