Page 1 of 1
Zonophone questions
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 12:49 am
by Hyperion
Hi! I'm looking for information about this Zonophone, starting with what model it is and when it would have been made. Does the horn look correct? I'm pretty sure the crank is a reproduction, but everything else could be original. Does it appear that way from this one photo? If anyone has an image of what the correct reproducer should look like, I'd be grateful if you would post it. And though I hate to ask, I have no idea what would be a fair price to offer for such a machine, so if anyone has any thoughts on that, please PM me, as I don't want to clutter the board with talk of value. Thank you! (Also, any tips for rotating the picture so it's easier for people to view?)
Re: Zonophone questions
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:23 am
by phonogfp
The machine appears to be a Zonophone Concert from 1905/06. Everything looks right on it. Some nickel may have been re-plated, as it looks awfully good in places.
By the time this machine was built, the company was transitioning from the V Concert sound box to one based on Victor's Exhibition.
I hope this helps.
George P.

- ZonoConcert001.jpg (77.52 KiB) Viewed 1133 times

- ZonoSoundboxb001.jpg (56.93 KiB) Viewed 1133 times
Re: Zonophone questions
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:43 am
by Jerry B.
It looks like a very nice machine to me. It's an interesting rear mount Zonophone that retains the fancy cast metal insert like the earlier front mount Zonophones. Actually the whole box, motor, crank, and turntable are the same as the front mount Zonophone Concert. An identical rear mount Zonophone Concert was my first Zonophone and its always held a prominent position in my collection.
Had Zonophone started the transition to rear mount machines before being acquired by Victor?
What year did Victor acquire Zonophone?
Thanks, Jerry Blais
Re: Zonophone questions
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:14 am
by phonogfp
Jerry B. wrote:
Had Zonophone started the transition to rear mount machines before being acquired by Victor?
What year did Victor acquire Zonophone?
Thanks, Jerry Blais
Technically, Victor didn't acquire Zonophone - - Eldridge Johnson did. That occurred in October 1903.
Zonophone didn't offer Tapering Arm (backmount) machines until 1905.
George P.
Re: Zonophone questions
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:46 am
by Jerry B.
Thanks George, you are a wealth of information. Jerry
Re: Zonophone questions
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:47 am
by phonogfp
Oh, I just make it up as I go along...
George P.
Re: Zonophone questions
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 6:10 pm
by eighteenbelow
I have never bought a Zonophone, mostly because I don't know very much about them. Personally, I would really be interested to hear what people think it's worth. Also, if it was made after Victor acquired the company, would be the nearest analog among their machines? A II?