The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ok, picked he up this morning. I must say I'm pleased. Soundbox gaskets were crumbling so replaced them and was unaware it had an black painted aluminum diaphragm. Will dive into cleaning and oiling/greasing later. Here's a short video.

https://youtu.be/toqVAg8Xq88

The cabinet, back bracket and tone arm will clean up nice. However someone started to sand the horn. Should I repaint it or leave it alone?

The back bracket and tone arm look Zonophone.

Jerry B.

Well I paid $325 for it at auction so I guess I'll find out when I pick it up

I dug out a Zonophone catalog reprint that features Zonophones built after being acquired by Victor. Late Zonophones featured wood top boards like Victor. They shared a few parts like cranks, generally slotted, and crank escutcheons, as well as a sound box that is closely related to an Exhibition. The entry level machine in my catalog is the Zonophone Home for $20. I believe yours is a version of the Home. The horn is in a fixed forward position and yours appears to have that feature. The horn on your machine looks like an upgrade from the simple one in my catalog.

In my phono travels I have seen two versions on this model. One had a small pedal type horn and a Zonophone decal on the front. The other had a larger pedal horn but no decal. In one of George & Tim's wonderful books it suggests the unmarked ones were sold by mail order by Sears or other mail order stores.

I think you should be pleased with your purchase and change to a . You bought an interesting machine at the price of a Standard or Home project. You'll see hundreds of Standards before another Zonophone Home.

Jerry B.

Thanks Jerry B for the help! I am happy with the purchase of a working example.

Stetam

Video at top