Brunswick Panatropes w/ gold plating

[gunnarthefeisty]

I know that the Cortez and Hampton (and the portables) had gold plated tonearms, etc, but did any other exponential Brunswicks feature this?

[AZ*]

I was going to suggest looking at Wakeman's Brunswick book on the APS website, but it seems that the APS website has packed up (again).

[phonogfp]

I was going to suggest looking at Wakeman's Brunswick book on the APS website, but it seems that the APS website has packed up (again).

Yes, the APS website is still struggling to recover from the server hack of August. The outdated Wordpress platform is reportedly a liability in that regard. Looks like an all-new website is in our future!

George P.

[gunnarthefeisty]

I was going to suggest looking at Wakeman's Brunswick book on the APS website, but it seems that the APS website has packed up (again).

Plus, I can't afford APS

[phonogfp]

Plus, I can't afford APS

You're aware it's $30/year in the US?

George P.

[gunnarthefeisty]

Plus, I can't afford APS

You're aware it's $30/year in the US?

George P.

yep

[VanEpsFan1914]

The list itself in the Wakeman book doesn't tell if all of the Panatropes are gilded or nickeled, but it mentions that the electric Panatropes are fitted with gold plate.

Brunswick also offered a bronze finish on some of the exponential Panatropes to match 1920s design sensibilities. It's not a bad look. The finish appears to be an oxidizing chemical treatment over brass. The gold plating found on Panatropes is almost dusty-looking like on a late Victor Orthophonic. I've seen some very small Panatropes--the small consolette-sized uprights--with nickeling but I forgot what was on the medallion.

They did a fine job finishing these splendid little machines; I think the Brunswick Panatrope may be superior to an Orthophonic in many respects.

[gunnarthefeisty]

The list itself in the Wakeman book doesn't tell if all of the Panatropes are gilded or nickeled, but it mentions that the electric Panatropes are fitted with gold plate.

Brunswick also offered a bronze finish on some of the exponential Panatropes to match 1920s design sensibilities. It's not a bad look. The finish appears to be an oxidizing chemical treatment over brass. The gold plating found on Panatropes is almost dusty-looking like on a late Victor Orthophonic. I've seen some very small Panatropes--the small consolette-sized uprights--with nickeling but I forgot what was on the medallion.

They did a fine job finishing these splendid little machines; I think the Brunswick Panatrope may be superior to an Orthophonic in many respects.

IMG_20210111_180117_2.jpg

I owned a Hampton (smaller Cortez, a bit shorter) that had some exterior damage but wow was the inside great! That motor purred along with no issues and the reproducer (and horn!) sounded wayyyy better than any rebuilt orthophonic I've heard. I almost regret selling it, but the legs were just gone, and at the time I had no idea how to fix the missing veneer.