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Just rebuilt a nice Maestrophone Reproducer by Sonora, but all the info I can find about Maestrophone refers to Paillard built machines. Is there a connection between Sonora and Paillard?

P.S. - The rebuilt reproducer looks beat up but really sounds good! Took a little effort to figure out how to isolate the connecting tube from the reproducer, but I did manage to succeed. Very happy with the results.

Listen to it play on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/yLPc49GrKWM

Cliff

All Sonora machines were made with Swiss parts- this looks like it was from one of the early ones of about 1910.

Definitely ahead of it's time. Cliff

As already mentioned, Paillard made reproducers were supplied to Sonora USA for use on their models. Motors, pitch controls, etc.... made by Paillard were also supplied. Although, I believe Paillard also had a reproducer called a "Sonora" that is a little earlier and used on their Maestrophone models (first pic). Here is the exact reproducer as yours. However, you will note the "bell" is incorporated in the Sonora name. Representing the "clear as a bell" slogan used by Sonora in the US.

This particular reproducer I show has been for sale "BIN" $49 for many months on Ebay. Not sure why it has not sold as I have seen early Maestrophone reproducer sell for much more.

gramophone78 wrote:As already mentioned, Paillard made reproducers were supplied to Sonora USA for use on their models. Motors, pitch controls, etc.... made by Paillard were also supplied. Although, I believe Paillard also had a reproducer called a "Sonora" that is a little earlier and used on their Maestrophone models (first pic). Here is the exact reproducer as yours. However, you will note the "bell" is incorporated in the Sonora name. Representing the "clear as a bell" slogan used by Sonora in the US.

So there is a Maestrophone Reproducer called a Sonora and apparently a Sonora reproducer called a Maestrophone. Both are made by Paillard. Mine seems to be a hybrid of the two you show, as it has the same body as the 2nd one but the same stars and text style as the first one with plain text for SONORA instead of the Sonora logo with the bell shown on the 2nd one.

So the reproducer I have is either a Maestrophone brand Sonora model or a Sonora brand Maestrophone model. I'd like to think it is a Maestrophone brand. Still don't know for sure, though.

Cliff

Cliff

CDBPDX wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:As already mentioned, Paillard made reproducers were supplied to Sonora USA for use on their models. Motors, pitch controls, etc.... made by Paillard were also supplied. Although, I believe Paillard also had a reproducer called a "Sonora" that is a little earlier and used on their Maestrophone models (first pic). Here is the exact reproducer as yours. However, you will note the "bell" is incorporated in the Sonora name. Representing the "clear as a bell" slogan used by Sonora in the US.

So there is a Maestrophone Reproducer called a Sonora and apparently a Sonora reproducer called a Maestrophone. Both are made by Paillard. Mine seems to be a hybrid of the two you show, as it has the same body as the 2nd one but the same stars and text style as the first one with plain text for SONORA instead of the Sonora logo with the bell shown on the 2nd one.

So the reproducer I have is either a Maestrophone brand Sonora model or a Sonora brand Maestrophone model. I'd like to think it is a Maestrophone brand. Still don't know for sure, though.

Cliff

Cliff

Cliff, I had a chance to look over some Paillard catalog's and could not find a "Sonora" marked reproducer offered for their own machine's. So, at this point, I will have to say that Paillard made reproducer's marked "Sonora" were for the Sonora company in the US and not used on their models.
Paillard had a bunch of names and designs available for their own machines and for other company's. Some look just like a Victor Exhibition and others like yours,etc.... I would say your reproducer is late teens and up.

gramophone78 wrote: Cliff, I had a chance to look over some Paillard catalog's and could not find a "Sonora" marked reproducer offered for their own machine's. So, at this point, I will have to say that Paillard made reproducer's marked "Sonora" were for the Sonora company in the US and not used on their models.
Paillard had a bunch of names and designs available for their own machines and for other company's. Some look just like a Victor Exhibition and others like yours,etc.... I would say your reproducer is late teens and up.

A Sonora brand made by Paillard and not so ahead of it's time, then. Cool. Thanks! Cliff

Perhaps George can verify, but as I recall Paillard supplied parts for numerous makers and would put the buyer's logo on the parts if desired to make them appear as though they were made by the company that assembled and sold the phonograph. Similarly many of the old "off-brand" phonographs were really made to order for a seller by Columbia. This is a fairly common practice even today, with manufacturers turning out parts, or even entire items, branded anyway you want. This is, for example, a big business for manufacturers in China. And when you go to your local supermarket and by a store-brand product, many (probably most) of them are made by somebody other than the supermarket chain whose name is on them.

Clay

CDBPDX wrote:

gramophone78 wrote: Cliff, I had a chance to look over some Paillard catalog's and could not find a "Sonora" marked reproducer offered for their own machine's. So, at this point, I will have to say that Paillard made reproducer's marked "Sonora" were for the Sonora company in the US and not used on their models.
Paillard had a bunch of names and designs available for their own machines and for other company's. Some look just like a Victor Exhibition and others like yours,etc.... I would say your reproducer is late teens and up.

A Sonora brand made by Paillard and not so ahead of it's time, then. Cool. Thanks! Cliff

I would say you are correct. I certainly would not knock these reproducers. They are great sounding.

Clay, you may have missed my comment in my last post....."Paillard had a bunch of names and designs available for their own machines and for other company's"

Paillard supplied many company's with their wares. Paillard and Thorens offered quantity parts at fair prices. So much so, it was feasible for other company's to buy from them instead of tooling to make their own.

Here is a side by side comparison of size between a Victrola No.2 and the Maestrophone reproducer and a couple other pics...

The Maestrophone diaphragm surface is about 12% wider than the No.2, meaning a little over 25% more surface area on the Maestrophone diaphragm.

Cliff