The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Any ideas here? Just acquired this with some other items. Still in original box. Thanks....John

Nice! Rare to find one that hasn't cracked and distorted. Supposedly one of the better clones of the Orthophonic. It saw use on the Sears "Truphonic" line & others (I think a variety of faceplates were available).

It might sound very good.

I love the cover plate design. Not sure what model phonographs used them.

Some people in the Trader needed a Tru-phonic and a Cecelian Melophonic reproducer badly.

If anyone needs a tone arm by E. Toman I have one from a 1950s portable in nickel plate.

Phono-Phan wrote:I love the cover plate design. Not sure what model phonographs used them.

A number of the Orthophonic Clones used this - and it was also sold (as here) as an aftermarket accessory to update your old machine.

I have a couple of the Toman replacement for Victor Orthophonic soundboxes with the fairly plain cover on the front. They sound OK, but not as good as an HMV 5a or 5b or Orthophonic soundbox in good condition. On a cheepee suitcase portable (Birch, Phonola, etc.) they are alright.

Toman seems to have advertised regularly in the “Talking Machine World” magazine - here’s part of the inside front cover of the August 1927 edition, available at the American Radio History site, https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd ... e-0002.pdf

I saw this reproducer on a Silvertone Orthophonic type. I'm not sure if it is original to the machine or not.
Harvey Kravitz