The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a Sonora Intermezzo 30R that is free to anyone who is interested in picking it up. The machine is complete and does work, but the cabinet is in very bad condition due to water damage. Based on my experience with restoring antique radios, I would say that it is restorable, but will take a lot of work to get it fixed up. The pot metal on the reproducer is also decaying as typical of pot metal being exposed to humid environments.

Shipping this may be difficult and expensive due to it's size, weight and fragile condition. But I'd be happy to work with you if that's something you wanted to do.

I can also provide more pictures or answer any questions regarding the machine if needed.


-Tom

I’m too far away, but I did have a question about the reproducer. Is it marked as a 5 or a 5B? I am trying to figure out which models used which versions of the reproducer. They differ a bit in the diameter of the mount.

Thanks,
Bill

BillH_NJ wrote:I’m too far away, but I did have a question about the reproducer. Is it marked as a 5 or a 5B? I am trying to figure out which models used which versions of the reproducer. They differ a bit in the diameter of the mount.

Thanks,
Bill

Here's a picture of the reproducer showing the number.

-Tom

If there is any way this could come closer to Knoxville.... it would LOVE to work on it. 16 hours one way sure is a long drive tho


David

I see that it is a B. My earlier Concert has a No. 5, but the Philharmonic has a No. 5 B. The mount on the B is the same size as an Orthophonic soundbox and they will fit that tonearm, unlike the earlier 5.

If no takers, and/or before it gets disposed of, can you please remove the grille and show us the horn? Would be interesting to see the Sonora attempt at orthophony.

PeterF wrote:If no takers, and/or before it gets disposed of, can you please remove the grille and show us the horn? Would be interesting to see the Sonora attempt at orthophony.

i

In case you’re interested, here is my Philharmonic with and without the front grille and the interior view. The extra piece wedged inside is to keep the horn from dropping off the tonearm mount—I haven’t figured out how to make that connection secure enough to stop it from dropping down eventually.

Bill

BillH_NJ wrote:In case you’re interested, here is my Philharmonic with and without the front grille and the interior view. T.... Bill

That black thing in back of the wood horn and under the tonearm mount, is that some type of conduit to increase the length and taper of the tone chamber?

OrthoFan

This is not a folded reentrant horn, which must have been covered by patents at the time, but seems a good length exponential horn anyway... It surely sounds great! The black conduit looks like done kind of hardened fabric... a pretty dead thing, so no resonances are produced. The late Victor and Silverton, Birch,, etc portables had very good fabric horns that sounded great.

Yes, the black part of the horn is coated and hardened. It just coils around the cabinet to increase the overall length of the horn. It is a nice sounding machine and clearly designed to impress, from the “Richardson-designed” cabinet to the gold-plated motor. The Intermezzo was the next model in the line in 1927 below the top-of-the-line Philharmonic.

Bill