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Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2025 6:46 pm
by Holodisc
Hello!
I recently acquired a Brunswick 10-7 Orthophonic phonograph and was curious how it compares to the Victor and Columbia models. I’ve attached a few pictures of the reproducer as well.
Additionally, I’ve been wanting to play my grandmother’s World War II era records, but I’ve avoided doing so on my Victrola XVI out of concern for potential damage. Would it be safe to play these records on an Orthophonic phonograph like the Brunswick using soft needles, or would that still pose a risk to them?
Re: Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2025 9:06 pm
by JerryVan
Very nice. However, your reproducer has a bad crack in it that will effect the way it sounds.
This reproducer, (with tonearm), might be a good purchase for you. I have no connection with it, or with the seller.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/406176564282?_ ... R5yG27G7Zg
For the record, Victors of that era were called Orthophonics, while Brunswicks were called Panatropes. You have a Panatrope reproducer.
Re: Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 9:14 am
by JohnM
‘Orthophonic’ is Victor terminology and not applicable to Brunswick products.
Re: Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 2:45 pm
by CarlosV
Your Brunswick Panatrope is a well designed machine intended to play the electrically recorded discs and compete with the Victor Orthophonic and the Columbia Viva Tonal. In my experience its sound quality is comparable to the competing products. There is a drawback, however: it is the soundbox, that although well designed, has a hard metal-to-metal connection to the arm, and therefore is both harder to the records and unable to provide acoustic isolation from the parasite sounds produced in the path. Your soundbox has an additional problem: it is cracked, due to pot metal degradation, and will not work well. As to wearing records, every gramophone will cause some wear to records, but it can be minimized if the system is well aligned and records are only played with new needles. The Brunswick will always cause higher wear than its competitors due to the hard metal connection to the arm, and in particular yours, with the cracked soundbox, will add some more damage due to misalignment of the needle bar and possible lack of freedom to pivot during play.
Re: Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 8:10 pm
by Jmcmahan67
The Victrola XVI and other acoustic Victrolas were of course designed for acoustic records which the Victor company ceased making in 1925. Having said that, I will sometimes play non-rare run of the mill scroll label orthophonic records or other electrically recorded records on my Victrola XVI. Personally, I would never play a World War II era record, or really any record made after about 1936 an acoustic Victrola. I use 1936 because that is when the Victor scroll label went out of production. Thanks, and I hope this helps..
John
Re: Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 8:46 pm
by Holodisc
JerryVan wrote: Sun Oct 12, 2025 9:06 pm
Very nice. However, your reproducer has a bad crack in it that will effect the way it sounds.
This reproducer, (with tonearm), might be a good purchase for you. I have no connection with it, or with the seller.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/406176564282?_ ... R5yG27G7Zg
For the record, Victors of that era were called Orthophonics, while Brunswicks were called Panatropes. You have a Panatrope reproducer.
Thank you for the link! Sixty dollars for a new reproducer and tone arm is a great deal, especially considering the Brunswick itself was a free gift.
I stand corrected, hahaha! I had assumed ‘orthophonic’ was a catch-all term for post-1925 phonographs. Glad to know!
Re: Questions about Brunswick orthophonic phonograph
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2025 8:49 pm
by Holodisc
CarlosV wrote: Mon Oct 13, 2025 2:45 pm
Your Brunswick Panatrope is a well designed machine intended to play the electrically recorded discs and compete with the Victor Orthophonic and the Columbia Viva Tonal. In my experience its sound quality is comparable to the competing products. There is a drawback, however: it is the soundbox, that although well designed, has a hard metal-to-metal connection to the arm, and therefore is both harder to the records and unable to provide acoustic isolation from the parasite sounds produced in the path. Your soundbox has an additional problem: it is cracked, due to pot metal degradation, and will not work well. As to wearing records, every gramophone will cause some wear to records, but it can be minimized if the system is well aligned and records are only played with new needles. The Brunswick will always cause higher wear than its competitors due to the hard metal connection to the arm, and in particular yours, with the cracked soundbox, will add some more damage due to misalignment of the needle bar and possible lack of freedom to pivot during play.
Thank you for the information! I tested a few of her records on the Brunswick such as “Comin’ In On a Wing and a Prayer” using a soft needle, and it sounded great.
Certainly better than on the VV-XVI Victrola, which I know wasn’t designed for post-1925 records, let alone one from the 1940s. Until I find a record player from the 1940s to 1960s, I’ll limit how often they’re played, since the records have sentimental value and I’d hate to damage them.