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Can anyone tell me anything about a Sonora Chippendale? I just bought one at an auction, haven't even gotten it home yet. I know absolutely nothing about these. I just was fascinated with the wooden tone arm and the design of the console. Thanks

There's actual a few threads on the board about various Sonora Period art case models. They were a high end machine built by Sonora using Swiss parts. They're apparently fairly rare & cost a small fortune when new, but they've been turning up quite frequently lately. They dont appear to be a particularly valuable machine despite their quality & appearence. The last one to appear on ebay was bought by a fellow board member. The auction had an opening bid of $600 but nobody bid on it. I have no idea what the member ended up paying for it after the auction. I guess in the end it all comes down to the fact that they're a fancy cabinet with a fancy motor, but the sound quality is pretty much the same as most ordinary acoustic era Sonoras, & other off-brand machines.
These threads should get you started.
They're a nice looking machine & I'm sure it will give you many years of pleasure. Congratulations!

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=5466

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... Sonora+art

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... Sonora+art

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... Sonora+art

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... Sonora+art

These have been turning up lately, haven't they? G-Shane's right - - these are a good example of the philosophy that "Cabinet is King." Some collectors love them, others hate them, but most don't seem to care about them much. Here's one being parted out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

The cabinets of the Period Sonoras are beautifully made. If you can find one that pleases you aesthetically, and if you have the space for one, they're nice machines to have. The wooden tone arms are a nice touch, too.

Enjoy your new Sonora!

George P.

Congratulations- Sonora put a lot of effort into their period case machines and they often look beautiful- and can sound good.

The Sonora period or art case models which ever you prefer were in my opinion some of the nicest cabinets made. I own a nice Sonora period model, mine is a Jacobean model. They were very expensive and custom ordered, made to order. Your model is a very nice example.
Fell free to send me a private message if you have any questions about them.

Thanks for the information. It has been a great help.

Art case? What's that?

AZ* wrote:Art case? What's that?

A salesman term for expensive cabinet
Most advertising & catalogues appear to refer to these Sonoras as "Period" models, but OrthoFan did find one reference to them being called "Art case" models.
There seems to be very little advertising specifically calling any companies range "art models" that I have found, but many, like Vocalion, Columbia & even Victor, will used terms like "artistically designed period models", or "designed in XXXXX art shop" in advertising for their most expensive period style cabinet machines. I guess art case just sounds a bit more "special" than period case, but collectors seem to use the term more than history. It appears to have been borrowed from the piano world from what I've seen so far.

--and yet another Sonora Period Model comes to light- this one a Louis XV. Interesting that this has a gold tonearm in place of the wood one we've recently seen on other examples. This one will sell at auction tomorrow. Seems like these things are popping up every other day now...

It seems even the Edison factory used the term "Art Model," as Frow dedicated a whole chapter (6) titled "Art Models" and lists eight different machines with very high price tags.