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I have been wondering if there are any Victor Orthophonic reproducers that can be used on a standard tone arm of a non-Orthophonic Victor machine (like an XIV or VI)? I have a portable Orthophonic, but the opening in the back of the reproducer is too large to fit on a standard Victor tone arm. I prefer to use my Orthophonic reproducer with my Victor scroll records (to better appreciate the sound quality). While the portable has astounding sound quality, I can image that it would be even better through the larger XIV tone arm and horn. Any help is much appreciated!

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http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... rthophonic

Thanks! So I think what I'm getting from that exchange is that if I can locate a brass bodied Orthophonic, I can mount a #2 flange in it and fit it to the tonearm. Is that correct?

While an Orthophonic won't fit, I have a Thorens "Primaphonic" soundbox that fits acoustic Victrolas. I use it from time to time to play electrical discs on my acoustic machines. If you can find one of those -- they pop up on eBay with some regularity -- it should cost you much less than an Orthophonic, fit without modification, and give you very similar results. I'd guess that other Thorens soundboxes would also work as well.

Edisonh19 wrote:Thanks! So I think what I'm getting from that exchange is that if I can locate a brass bodied Orthophonic, I can mount a #2 flange in it and fit it to the tonearm. Is that correct?

You can mount a #2 flange in either a brass or potmetal reproducer. Refer to item IV in the following link to remove a hardened old insert: http://www.lagparty.org/~wyatt/rebuild-orthophonic.html

Bob

Just as an FYI Edisonh19, brass bodied Orthophonic reproducers are not all that common, are sought after by collectors for their Orthophonic machines and can bring in the $400 to $500 range for a good one. Perhaps overkill for the kind of experiment you want to try.

Clay

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that. I'm used to how plentiful other reproducers are. I didn't know that the pot metal ones were the more common of the two.

Edisonh19 wrote:Thanks, I wasn't aware of that. I'm used to how plentiful other reproducers are. I didn't know that the pot metal ones were the more common of the two.

Yes, by far. I haven't been able to find the date when the change from brass to pot metal was made, but it was early on. I don't know that the brass body ones inherently sound any better, but they are stable and don't self destruct over time like the pot metal ones tend to do. That is the reason they are sought after.

Clay

Edisonh19 wrote:Thanks! So I think what I'm getting from that exchange is that if I can locate a brass bodied Orthophonic, I can mount a #2 flange in it and fit it to the tonearm. Is that correct?

Yes. The isolator might fit tight in the reproducer,but it will work. May require a little sanding/filing of the isolator.

I've done it however afterward it seemed pointless as the resultant sound wasn't exactly life changing.

If you want great sound from a non-orthophonic reproducer, find a Victrola #4 (not a #4A), rebuild it and give that a go. The 4 and 4A fit all pre-orthophonic Victor machines.

I recently procured a pot-metal Orthophonic from a portable ( extra cover and felt muffler), and it has a mounting bushing for a Victor #2 installed in it.

I really don't want to remove it, and put the correct bushing in there, at least not yet.


I have tried it out on my 1909 XVI and my 1918 XI... the frequency response is a little broader than ones gets form a mica-diaphragm reproducer, but the gains are minimal without the exponential horn to go with Orthophonic sound-box.

You can play electrically-cut records without the reproducer distorting and blasting...

DO be careful working on Victor pot-metal - it may look sound, but can crack / crumble in a heartbeat.