The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all,
I’ve been keeping an eye on a few phonographs lately and this one just keeps catching my eye. Does anyone know what model this could be and what number of springs the motor may have?

Thanks in advance!
VictorVV-X

It doesn’t look exactly like any of the models in the catalogs I have, but it does appear to be one of the Standard (rather than De Luxe) period models. They had either two or three springs, depending on the model. The Chippendale I have has a double-spring motor that is supposed to play 30 minutes on one winding. I think the De Luxe models (like the Chippendale) all have motor meters and the later ones have an electric light. The motor on mine is mounted on the cabinet itself on top of the horn rather than on the motorboard. The wooden tonearm in the photo is not carved as it is on De Luxe models (at least the later ones) and it doesn’t have the motor meter. They are all really nice machines, though!

Bill

BillH_NJ wrote:It doesn’t look exactly like any of the models in the catalogs I have, but it does appear to be one of the Standard (rather than De Luxe) period models. They had either two or three springs, depending on the model. The Chippendale I have has a double-spring motor that is supposed to play 30 minutes on one winding. I think the De Luxe models (like the Chippendale) all have motor meters and the later ones have an electric light. The motor on mine is mounted on the cabinet itself on top of the horn rather than on the motorboard. The wooden tonearm in the photo is not carved as it is on De Luxe models (at least the later ones) and it doesn’t have the motor meter. They are all really nice machines, though!

Bill

Bill, thank you for the help. How is the motor removed for servicing? Does it come through the top, or from the front or back of the cabinet?

Thanks again.
Gerald.

From the top. As you may be able to see in the photo, the back is finished and is not removable (at least as far as I can tell). Given that, the speed control and motor meter shafts have to be lined up with the motor when the motorboard is put in place. I do fine with the speed but have not yet gotten the motor meter to connect properly. The motors are nicely finished; the one on mine is gold plated. There is also a small drawer on the right side near the front for supplies. It looks like it is there in your photo as well. They are beautiful machines.

Bill, thank you again. I am a bit of a fan of console phonographs and you have caused my enthusiasm for this one to increase! I may just have to take a closer look at this one!

Thank you again!

A couple more photos of mine—

Thats quite a grand looking console, as are the surroundings. Every maker seems to have advertised the best sound due to some change in design a bit. Do you find your Sonora to have anything different than the normal acoustic phonograph aside from the wonder cabinet.

I have a Louis XV machine. Mine is a 1922, so it has the Gold plated tone arm. They are very nice and I think undervalued machines. The motors are nearly silent and Gold plated. The consoles are a bit wider than an upright, but you can put a lamp or something else beside the lid. Very nice and the wooden tone arm is a plus.