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Never having seen an Orchosol portable "in the flesh" until today, I'm wondering just what appeal they hold? If you take the fancy soundbox off, you are left with a machine comparable with any other cheaply made portable from the 1930s. My immediate comparison was with the "Mayfair", which was given away in exchange for cigarette coupons. Hope I'm not sounding too derogatory, but having been under the impression that they were highly collectible, I'm somewhat underwhelmed!

Barry

I agree. I think you summed it up very well. The soundboxes are quite special but the rest, not so much.

Steve wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:37 pm I agree. I think you summed it up very well. The soundboxes are quite special but the rest, not so much.

You guys are forgetting the angry Chuckie- like baby decal. That's TWO special things.

I picked mine up because it's an oddball. Being one myself I feel a connection.

gramophone-georg wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:50 pm

Steve wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:37 pm I agree. I think you summed it up very well. The soundboxes are quite special but the rest, not so much.

You guys are forgetting the angry Chuckie- like baby decal. That's TWO special things.

I picked mine up because it's an oddball. Being one myself I feel a connection.

I totally get that but I couldn't sleep at night with a lid open on an Orchosol portable - the stuff of nightmares!

gramophone-georg wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:50 pmYou guys are forgetting the angry Chuckie- like baby decal. That's TWO special things.

Whoever thought that decal up surely must have been on something illegal??

Barry

I agree broadly. But they do sound really good with their correct soundbox. Despite my moniker on here I'm not a big aficionado - it's just that the first EMG I ever bought is an original EMG conversion of a large Orchorsol cabinet machine into a Mk Xb. The hideous bawling baby is safely trapped behind the conduit riser/horn base.

My Apollo Super 9 sounds amazing with my Orchosol soundbox. I'm lucky, the original lifebelt rubber isolator is still very soft and pliable which no doubt helps.

I only wish the Orchosol could play fibre needles!

Steve wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:52 pm
I only wish the Orchosol could play fibre needles!

You'll have to look for some Apollon needles or other round shank fibres.
Or get an adaptor.

Phono48 wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 4:11 pm Never having seen an Orchosol portable "in the flesh" until today, I'm wondering just what appeal they hold? If you take the fancy soundbox off, you are left with a machine comparable with any other cheaply made portable from the 1930s. My immediate comparison was with the "Mayfair", which was given away in exchange for cigarette coupons. Hope I'm not sounding too derogatory, but having been under the impression that they were highly collectible, I'm somewhat underwhelmed!

Barry

I must admit that I initially only bought my first portable because it had the automatically adjusting 'fancy soundbox' - then I bought a second one as it had the manual adjusting 'fancy' soundbox and the machine had the 'non-baby' logo. They were also both far cheaper than you would expect to pay for the soundboxes alone oddly enough and are nice machines.

The irony is though that I actually use my 'Orchorsol look-a-like' Celebro soundbox with one of them. The Celebro seems heavier and better constructed and to my little ears sounds better than either of the Orchorsol's.

gramophoneshane wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 9:36 pm

Steve wrote: Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:52 pm
I only wish the Orchosol could play fibre needles!

You'll have to look for some Apollon needles or other round shank fibres.
Or get an adaptor.

Oh no ......................... the fibre needle adapter ..............

This is one of those items I had the opportunity to buy for 'next to nothing' and didn't and I have regretted not buying it ever since.

Really solidly built / quality product ................. boo hoo