The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am a new subscriber with absolutely no background in this area. My wife and I inherited an old Sonora a few years back. A couple of years ago I disassembled it intending to immediately refinish it and reassemble it. Work distracted me and I am finally back at it - trying to give it to the wife for Christmas. However, I am struggling trying to reassemble it and cannot find any information on it. I have a couple of pre-disassembly pictures of the turntable I can email if needed. The cabinet is a side-by-side, with only a record storage cabinet on the left. I do not imagine this was a top of the line machine, but it has meaning to us. Can anyone help steer me to a manual where I can identify the model and perhaps find a manual?

Thanks - Gary

Gary, Is it possible for you to post a photo of your machine? Jerry

Is it just reassembling the motor that you're having difficulty with, or something else?
Sonora used motors made by Paillards of Switzerland, and most were pretty basic double spring motors. I can easily post photos of step by step reassembly if that's what you need.

I am attaching (if I figure out how) 7 pictures. The first 3 are pre-disassembly. The last 4 are of the instrument now. I did not take apart the motor (a bit afraid to). I can reassemble the cabinet as I am just about finished with it, but cannot figure out yet how the motor and items fit back together.

Gary

I am still not quite sure what the problem is. The big horn in picture 5 goes into the right side of the cabinet and needs to be connected to where the tonearm comes out (picture 3 bottom right). The motor needs to be attached to the motorboard (picture 3) such that the crank can connect to it from the side of the cabinet. Everything else just needs to get back where it was on the "before" pictures. I would give the motor a cood cleaning and lubrication, otherwise if it worked before there is no reason that it should not work now. Ideally the whole motor should be disassembled for the cleaning and lube, and the main springs should be cleaned and re-packed in grease, but all that has time for a later date, it's more important now to get you back to an assembled and working machine.
I don't know of any specific manual for your model, but here is a link to a Sonora "Nocturne" upright manual. Most of the information in there should be identical for your machine. Hope this helps.
Good Luck!
Andreas

Thanks Andreas - I have gotten it (almost) back together, and so far every thing works. The url that was referenced did not show up, or I did not know where to look for it.

One item in the cabinet I am am having a hard time finding a fit or function for. It is a rod that goes through the left side of the cabinet and through the wall below the turntable. I will attach a picture to this post. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your help.

Gary - an old Ranger

Hi Gary,

That's a volume control, somehow that flat part fits inside the horn, so you'll have to remove the horn (at least partially) and that volume control "baffle" fits in there somehow...it should be pretty easy to figure out how, it has to be able to open and close at the throat of the horn. I don't have any Sonora machines, so I can't tell you exactly how, but that's what that part is.

Hope this helps a bit,
Sean

Im guessing the black bit at the end of the rod goes between the horn & motor board, and acts as a volume control by sliding across the horn throat.
It probably mounts in the section of brown wood under the motor board, visible in the picture above the rod.
You probably need to flip the black bit 180 degrees and slide it in? (so the surface we see in the pic is facing upward)

Thanks folks - I got it together. One problem I am having though. When I put the head on the record it slows the record to a stop. I have tried to find a way to adjust the weight it places on the record but have been unable to find a way.

Any suggestions?

Gary

Are you using a new steel needle tightened in the needle bar, and is the record not obviously worn-out? I figure you're experimenting with a standard shellac 78 record, and not a vinyl LP, which of course wouldn't work!
Your machine is designed to play pre-1925 era records, although an unworn later one should work too. If it still slows down, the mechanism will have to be examined further for your loss of spring power.
Hope this helps.
Bob