The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Why does it have slots? It would seem that one would want the sound from the motor to be muffled. So the sympathetic vibrations from the outside of the horn are projected ?

Well, with an Amberola in good condition, the motor noise should be negligible….

As to whether the slots transfer vibrations from the horn: you might try replacing the grille with a solid piece, and compare the difference in sound between the two. (Incidentally, the A- and B-80 Diamond Disc Phonographs also had upper grilles)…

Bill

The lid takes care of the operational noise.

As for the grill, extra musical sound will exit along with motor noise, but does it need to?

The following is fantasy, just play along...
Picture the openings on the sides of the Amberola 1A cabinet. I'll guess they cost more to add than they actually delivered sound. Now picture an Amberola 30, I bet the openings of the top grill is less about letting extra music out and more about saving money.

Picture the Amberola 30 without those openings. Now try lifting it out. Those opens sure made it easy to remove. An designer/engineer could sell that as a three-for-one advantage.

"Look boss, no extra cost to fit this cover with a lift knob. Lets make it into a grill, this baby will be 10% louder! The best part for us, it'll use 30% less metal by stamping these vents." "Now, how about that raise you've been promising?"

I'll let this fantasy rest now.

James.

Victor had a patent covering a playing compartment sealed off from the motor compartment. The Amberolas and Diamond Disc machines were deliberately designed with all that open space ("falsework" as termed by Frow) to avoid violating that patent.

George P.

The top grille on the B-80 makes for a nice look. I have attached silk to the underside of mine to try and keep out dust. Looks better too. Would it have had cloth covering originally?

Mike

Yes, my B-80 had cloth covering the upper grill. It was certainly original, sort of an olive green color.

Sean

Thanks Sean. Sorry, don't mean to highjack the thread.
Mike

phonogfp wrote:Victor had a patent covering a playing compartment sealed off from the motor compartment. The Amberolas and Diamond Disc machines were deliberately designed with all that open space ("falsework" as termed by Frow) to avoid violating that patent. George P.

Was this patent associated with the Victrola style case?
Wow, all that open space around the pivoting horn could legally be considered sealed!

James.

Roaring20s wrote:

phonogfp wrote:Victor had a patent covering a playing compartment sealed off from the motor compartment. The Amberolas and Diamond Disc machines were deliberately designed with all that open space ("falsework" as termed by Frow) to avoid violating that patent. George P.

Was this patent associated with the Victrola style case?
Wow, all that open space around the pivoting horn could legally be considered sealed!

James.

Eldridge Johnson had at least two U.S. patents that covered the multiple compartments: No.856,442 and No.946,442. The cabinets pictured on these particular patents weren't put into production (the "Pooley" cabinet was patented [U.S. Design Patent No.38,113] by Walter C. Pitts, and the later "VTLA" cabinet was patented [U.S. Design No.38,537] by John C. English), but the numerous claims in Johnson's patents were incorporated into the production models.

George P.

I found at patent No.946,442 on line and tried comprehending the legal speak to no avail.

back to fantasy...
The boss gave me a hardy pat on the back for my imagination.
He said, he imagines a raise too.

James.