The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Is this a Zonophone reproducer? It looks like a rear mount that was converted to a front mount with the addition of a long throat.


Thanks.

Not 100% sure, some of the reproducers had red lettering inside, but they said Universal as a reference.

Curt A wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:16 pm Not 100% sure, some of the reproducers had red lettering inside, but they said Universal as a reference.

I got it apart. It looks very much like a Victor reproducer.

Information from Intertique website:

Oxford tapering arm phonograph
Type: Tapering arm Oxfords
Introduced: Spring, 1909. Discontinued: Fall, 1912.
Prices: $9.45--$18.85.

Comments: In 1906 Victor management made a decision to eschew the premium market and to not manufacture machines for other concerns, so as to not dilute the value of the Victor name. Ten thousand remaining scheme machines, Victor Ps, were sold to Harger and Bliss of Dubuque, Iowa.

Nonetheless, this series of tapering arm Oxfords is of Victor origin, manufactured in Newark, New Jersey by the American Zonophone Company, at the time a wholly Victor owned subsidiary. The discontinuance of the machines in 1912 coincides with the demise of the Zonophone company, forced to disband by court decision after losing a lawsuit to Columbia.

Four tapering arm Oxfords--the LE, OD, JF, and RW--were offered in plain square oak cases with single and double spring motors and 8" and 10" turntables. A supplemental catalogue shows mahogany cases. The same machines were sold by Montgomery Ward as Lakesides and have appeared with Zonophone decals.

The one piece back bracket and elbow was probably created by Louis Valiquet, Zonophone's in-house inventor. A two section tone arm with Exhibition type reproducer was affixed to a socket in the bracket.

Cheers, Bob S.

Zwebie nailed it...

Thanks, Bob! So that's why it resembles a Victor/Zonophone reproducer, only this one was apparently adapted to serve as a long throat reproducer. Rebuilding it should be no problem.

Thanks again.