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I have for sale a nice "Bombay" style Sonora for sale with the wooden tone arm. It comes with the extra wooden body reproducer. The motor runs strong. I am asking $500. I live in Central Wisconsin and would prefer to have this phonograph picked up here unless the buyer is willing to cover the cost of crating and shipping. Please contact me with any questions or offers. It is best to contact me at: [email protected]

Just FYI, your Sonora has a bombé style cabinet, not "Bombay". 'Bombé' is a French cabinet-making term meaning 'blown up' or 'exploded' as if a bomb had gone off inside swelling the lines of the cabinet. The word 'bombé' is pronounced 'bom-bay', which leads to much confusion on the part of those not familiar with furniture terminology. It is a common error that I see all the time on Craigslist, eBay, etc. Sonora never used the term. They referred to these cabinets as 'bulge models' in advertising. These cabinets were built by the Herzog Art Furniture Company of Saginaw, Michigan.

I think he should lower his asking price to $100 and pay shipping because of the misrepresentation.

JohnM,
Thanks for the information. I have always heard of this style as Bombay and often wondered if it was a correct term.

Henry,
There was no intention to "misrepresent" at all. In my almost 30 years in this hobby I have met some very wonderful people. I can say now that I know of one person that I don't ever care to meet.

Wish you were closer. I love these swell side machines and yours looks to be in very nice condition and I'd love to have it in my collection.

Phono-Phan wrote:Henry,There was no intention to "misrepresent" at all. In my almost 30 years in this hobby I have met some very wonderful people. I can say now that I know of one person that I don't ever care to meet.

I don't think Henry meant this remark to be taken seriously, hence the attached "smilie".

Barry

I always thought they were called Mae West cabinets.

Actually, if I were going to sell one on Craigslist I would call it a bombay, cabinet. Most people who might be searching would be more likely to use that term, incorrect though it is, and might not recognize bombé.

By that logic, we could call them all "Victrolas", though.

JohnM wrote:By that logic, we could call them all "Victrolas", though.

Alas, few non-collectors know or care about these distinctions. The idea on Craigslist is to know that when you are searching. Right now I use phonograph, Victrola, Edison, and record player as search terms. That seems to dig out most machines, even though few of them may be properly classified in a technical sense.

Clay

Phono-Phan wrote:I have for sale a nice "Bombay" style Sonora for sale with the wooden tone arm. It comes with the extra wooden body reproducer. The motor runs strong. I am asking $500. I live in Central Wisconsin and would prefer to have this phonograph picked up here unless the buyer is willing to cover the cost of crating and shipping. Please contact me with any questions or offers. It is best to contact me at: [email protected]

Hmmm... tempting, seeing as how I am in SW Wisconsin myself.

Of course, there is the consideration of that other fella who lives under the same roof as me, and would probably prefer that I downsize my, um, collections of "stuff."