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I finally have the big three. Brunswick Panatrope Cortez, Victor's Credenza and Columbia Viva Tonal 810. I wish I have a bigger room where they can stay side by side.

Beautiful.

waiting for the verdict...

Orthophonic Credenzas are legendary amongst machines, (for the most part) due to their bass response. That being said, to my non-trained ear, the Viva-Tonal has a slight edge over the Panatrope (which isn't chopped liver, either). Just thinking out loud.
Like what YOU like, but grab a great recud and give it a spin on each, one right after the other in rapid succession so you can judge.
Just as with a piano, room placement and whether or not the machine sits on carpeting are contributing factors. Make sure that the recud is a quality brand and a favorite so that you know it's nuances.
Stephen

James, we think alike! I also have the big three! I'm going to put them side by side in my living room and make a video of the battle of the orthophonic era machines! Marc.

marcapra wrote:James, we think alike! I also have the big three! I'm going to put them side by side in my living room and make a video of the battle of the orthophonic era machines! Marc.

I've taken a slightly different approach: a face-off. On one side of the room, my rather battered Orthophonic Credenza and my Victor V (oak speartip horn). Facing them from the other, Edisonic Schubert and Edison Triumph with cygnet horn (alas, 10-panel, not the more appropriate 11, but that's what I got with it). I like to think of them as opposing armies girding for battle. Outlying skirmishers elsewhere in the room: Edison C-250 with long-play gearing; Pathé/Diamond Diffusor; and, on a high shelf primarily for display, Columbia AH and Victor Monarch Junior front-mounts and a Pathé no. 0 cylinder machine. Each of those has its own animal: the Monarch Jr. a Nipper, the Pathé a ceramic rooster, and the Columbia a big, wooden cat figure (thumbing its nose at Nipper, natch!).

drh wrote:

marcapra wrote:James, we think alike! I also have the big three! I'm going to put them side by side in my living room and make a video of the battle of the orthophonic era machines! Marc.

I've taken a slightly different approach: a face-off. On one side of the room, my rather battered Orthophonic Credenza and my Victor V (oak speartip horn). Facing them from the other, Edisonic Schubert and Edison Triumph with cygnet horn (alas, 10-panel, not the more appropriate 11, but that's what I got with it). I like to think of them as opposing armies girding for battle. Outlying skirmishers elsewhere in the room: Edison C-250 with long-play gearing; Pathé/Diamond Diffusor; and, on a high shelf primarily for display, Columbia AH and Victor Monarch Junior front-mounts and a Pathé no. 0 cylinder machine. Each of those has its own animal: the Monarch Jr. a Nipper, the Pathé a ceramic rooster, and the Columbia a big, wooden cat figure (thumbing its nose at Nipper, natch!).

Dear god; How do you not trip over your collection. Sounds nice though, we should all be so lucky!

Phonoboy wrote:

drh wrote:

marcapra wrote:James, we think alike! I also have the big three! I'm going to put them side by side in my living room and make a video of the battle of the orthophonic era machines! Marc.

I've taken a slightly different approach: a face-off. On one side of the room, my rather battered Orthophonic Credenza and my Victor V (oak speartip horn). Facing them from the other, Edisonic Schubert and Edison Triumph with cygnet horn (alas, 10-panel, not the more appropriate 11, but that's what I got with it). I like to think of them as opposing armies girding for battle. Outlying skirmishers elsewhere in the room: Edison C-250 with long-play gearing; Pathé/Diamond Diffusor; and, on a high shelf primarily for display, Columbia AH and Victor Monarch Junior front-mounts and a Pathé no. 0 cylinder machine. Each of those has its own animal: the Monarch Jr. a Nipper, the Pathé a ceramic rooster, and the Columbia a big, wooden cat figure (thumbing its nose at Nipper, natch!).

Dear god; How do you not trip over your collection. Sounds nice though, we should all be so lucky!

Well, my wife does keep mumbling things about "we have too many machines in there...." But she's been very understanding and often even encouraging, so I guess "lucky" really is the right word!

Big three is certainly an accurate description. I recently acquired both the Brunswick and Columbia. The Viva Tonal needs some work, a broken spring, and someone swapped the gold for a nickel tonearm. Otherwise all are in decent shape.. please excuse all the 'clutter' on top, I was too lazy to move them...

Steve, your machines are to die for. Very nice display.