Sonora

[chunnybh]

Does anyone have a Sonora catalogue for identifying the various models?
This one has a section wooden arm with two reproducers one for Lateral and one for Vertical records.

[GMEMG]

It should have a metal plate inside on the motorboard saying what it is .........

That photo looks familiar - even with the background carefully removed - i think i know where the original may be found

[chunnybh]

Yes that is the same one. The metal tag simply says INSTRUMENT NoA with a serial number.
Most Sonoras' I have come across have a name like Sonoro Grand,Supreme and Invincible.
Few have wooden tonearms.
I just restored the Lateral soundbox and hugely improved the sound by sealing air gaps in the tonearm and between the horn.

[solophoneman]

Try removing the bottom draw and flipping it over. In many instances the name of the actual model is stenciled on the bottom of the draw. My best guess from the ornate corners, and the shorter lower legs, is that it might be a Sonora Elite. But take out the draw and flip it, and you may have your answer.

[Jerry B.]

If my memory is correct, the smallest with swelled sides is the Baby Grand followed by the Grand, Invincible, and the Supreme. I believe the Grand, Invincible and the Supreme were all the same height but with increasingly fancier trim levels. Towards the end of the upright era, Sonora may have added another swelled sided upright towards the lower end of the lineup. I think the one in the photo is a Grand and the wood tonearm would have been optional. Jerry

[Jerry B.]

Years ago I bought a Puritan that was missing its curved grill. I took it to a woodworker and he made me a duplicate and shared his secret of making a curved grill. He bought a high quality piece of mahogany plywood, removed the inside layer of veneer, cut out the design and warped the piece to the correct curve. He said it was quite easy to warp the grill with the inside layer of veneer removed. Jerry Blais

[David Spanovich]

Hi Chunny:

I spotted your comment on the UK board regarding the Sonora's lack of bass. You're right that sealing the air leaks will help somewhat, but, at best, you might be able to squeeze a little more mid-range out of the tone chamber. (Though this can greatly improve the overall sound quality.)

From the look of the photo of the horn you posted, it has a constant, gradual taper to the mouth, and is fairly long. This means it would probably be capable of pumping out about as much bass, or lower mid-rage, as an HMV small table model from the late 1920s--if it were coupled with the proper sound box and tonearm. But, as things are, with the stair-stepped Sonora tonearm, this probably won't be possible.

Not until the introduction of the Orthophonic line did the other (US-based) manufactures offer tapered tonearms; unfortunately, and even though some of the off-brand models had horns that were better designed than the ones Victor used during this period, this advantage was canceled out by the poorly designed tonearms.

I once experimented by installing a Victor VV-80 tapered tonearm onto a Sears Silvertone phonograph, from about the same period, just to see what it would sound like. To my ears, it sounded considerably better than the Victor. I remember that the overall tone was more mellow and natural sounding, especially when electrical recordings were played.

DS

[schweg]

Deep South Phonographs makes nice replacement grills.

[gramophoneshane]

It's not one of the higher end models as they have calved skirts under the doors. I think Bruce might be right that it's the "Elite", as it has extra moulding below the lid, which the Grand does not have.

[chunnybh]

Thank you for all the help.
The drawer has a patent paper attached to the botton. One corner is missing .Perhaps it had a name on it.

The sound is never going to be great on this machine but I was impressed by the huge improvement made by sealing the air gaps in the acoustic system.
I found a video of a Sonora Elite and yes, I believe it is the same design.