The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'd guess it was made around 1915. The bombe sided Sonora is always appreciated by collectors. There were several models with the swelled sides and I suspect yours is towards the lower end of that spectrum. Oak generally brings a high price than mahogany. It's hard to tell from the one photo of the entire machine but it looks like there is very little finish on the oak. The finish on the outside of the cabinet should be the same as the inside. A nice and fully functional oak Sonora with bombe sides with excellent original finish should be in the $400 to $600 range. If the outside finish on yours is lacking, it is worth less. This is only my opinion. It's hard to appraise something without more photos. What do others think?

Jerry B.

What you have is a Sonora Baby Grand from somewhere around 1915-16 and Jerry is about right on the price (asking prices on eBay or other online sites are not reliable). They are nice, well built machines and yours in oak is exceptionally nice. The Baby Grand was the low end of Sonora machines, but that said, it is a great one to keep and play records on. It is capable of playing standard shellac 78s with a steel needle and also Pathé and Edison vertical cut records, with the reproducer turned facing the front and either a sapphire Pathé stylus inserted or a diamond stylus for Edison Diamond Discs.

No serial numbers survive today, so getting an exact year can be a fairly difficult. Sonora introduced the baby grand in 1915 but made it all the way into the early 1920s. The serial number seems high to me, but I don't know.

What style reproducer does it have? Sonora changed the tonearm/reproducer several times over production run, and sometimes that can help narrow it down.

Jerry, upon looking at the highly enlarged version of the photo it looks like the finish is actually pretty much still there, I think the lighting is making the wood look more naked than it is. In close up it looks a little dry and has some minor lifting of the veneer in a couple of spots, but I think it would clean up nicely in an afternoon or two of gentle cleaning. All in all, I think you have a very nice machine, Johnny. Welcome to the forum!

Martin

My oak Baby Grand is # 503055...Has owners manual, record index & fancy 8 ½" x 12 ½" Guaranty.....Unfortunately, no one ever filled out the style, serial #, or date of purchase...

Iowa Dale

Hit of the Week wrote:My oak Baby Grand is # 503055...Has owners manual, record index & fancy 8 ½" x 12 ½" Guaranty.....Unfortunately, no one ever filled out the style, serial #, or date of purchase...

Iowa Dale

It's not unfortunate, just exceptionally good luck... your warranty is still valid...

Curt A wrote:

Hit of the Week wrote:My oak Baby Grand is # 503055...Has owners manual, record index & fancy 8 ½" x 12 ½" Guaranty.....Unfortunately, no one ever filled out the style, serial #, or date of purchase...

Iowa Dale

It's not unfortunate, just exceptionally good luck... your warranty is still valid...

You're right, Curt!
I'm guessing this one is from around 1918.

Has anyone ever seen a Baby Grand in Circassian Walnut? I see by the ad that it was available........

Iowa Dale

I’ve seen a nickel-plated Edison Gem, which is comparable in concept.

I have a Sonora baby grand in American walnut