The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Nice looking, but the price point seems awfully optimistic for the current market. I wonder if the soundbox is a brass one -- hard to tell even with the enlargement feature, but it does look pretty solid and the gold plate seems nice from what can be seen of it. The serial number places its manufacture in 1927, and the needle bar assembly (what can be seen of it) looks attached, not part of the casting, so probably pot-metal I'd guess. I wish sellers would make a habit of including a picture of the front of their soundboxes, but it's likely most don't know about the crucial differences.

Be interesting to see if it goes anywhere at that price. I'm kinda doubtful.

I don't think Brass Ortho reproducers were ever "original equipment" on the tonearms with the overhang support. I've only ever seen them on the earlier self-supporting ones. Still, you never know and can't tell here. It could have been swapped out for a Brass one.

Sean

I think it's a brasser. Note the slot across the bottom edge of the cover, and the needle-screw projects absolutely perpendicular to the axis of the needle-bar pivots... both are ear-marks of a brass OSB.

Serial # in the 60,000 block, suggests a pretty late machine... also has a darker finish than the earlier examples ?


I agree, the asking price is optimistic.

I think it's a brass reproducer also, I'm posting pics of mine from my
1927 8-4 that has an overhang ,and it looks just like it from the back side.
Gene

That's a beauty !

Any machine can have a brass reproducer on it. We all know it isn't uncommon at all to find machines that have had parts swapped. All I was suggesting is that the Credenza in question for sale would not have originally been equipped with one. By mid 1926 or so, pot metal was taking over. I can only speak from my experience, but I've seen dozens of Credenzas in my 30+ years with brass reproducers and owned several, along with early 4-4s, Colonys and Consolettes, but not one of them had the overhang. Every orthophonic Victrola I've ever owned or seen with the overhang support had a pot metal reprducer on it. By the time the 8-4 was introduced, brass reproducers were certainly not factory equipment, so it was likely replaced later (and not a bad thing to discover!).

I'd certainly like to hear of anyone who has a certain original machine with the tonearm support that originally came with a brass reproducer. I've never seen one.

Sean

I have to agree with you sean, the 8-4 I have and I'm only the third owner, was owned
by a lady from brand new in 1927. She didnt like the windup, so she had an electric
motor put in and for some reason the turn table was also replaced, so the reproducer
was also probably replaced too, as you pointed out the overhang is potmetal, which
I have had to repair. Thanks for your info and expertise and yes Frank it is a very nice
reproducer and the thing is I only gave 200.00 for the whole unit at a trade mart. The
lady that originally owned it gave it to a tv auction locally and some guy bought it
and now it's mine and I love it, the sound is awesome.
Gene

I picked up an 8-4 in a trade that came from the southern tier of NY a couple of years ago, it has a low serial number and pot metal everything. Great sounding machine that for now I've got relegated to my garage until I can make a spot in the house for it. I really was surprised at how good it sounded and I play it whenever I'm out there working, you can hear it all the way across the street from where it sits (about 75 feet).

Sean

I like the 8-4 better than the Credenza. If you find a "sweet spot" for it in your house it's really a great sounding machine. The best part to me is though, all the records that will set between the legs down there.