The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would like to start out by thanking you all in advance. I have been scouring the internet since I picked up my Sonora on friday. So I am very new to this. I have learned much already from this forum and hope to learn more. From what I've gathered, or guessed, is that this is a Sonora Grand from 1920. A piece of paper on the underside showed 1920 as the most recent year. The serial # is Instrument#A 732995.I've only used lemon oil to clean it up and reattached the wood arm. A few questions I have are.
a) Am I correct in my model?
b) I've also read there is an issue with the wood arms with gaps and sound quality? How would I go about fixing this.
c) What type of wood is this? It looks like it may have been stained at some point, how can I tell, other than seeing some minor runs in the corners.


I am having some issue with downloading the pictures I took on my phone other than this one. I can post more if anyone is interested when I iron this issue out. i did take it apart to clean it up a bit and yet it STILL works! I purchased it because I thought it was a beautiful piece, not for resale or anything.
Thanks,
Gary

For a first machine, you have picked a very attractive one. I think you have a Grand model but empty the parts drawer and look on the underside. Many times the model is stamped on the underside. Most Sonora tone arms simply slip down over a pin and I don't think there is any way to correct any sound leakage. It's the way it was designed and that is as good as it gets. I suspect your machine is mahogany and I hope you enjoy it very much. Jerry Blais

Hoping some of this stuff might help! These are from the 1917 or 1918 (not exactly sure) sales brochure.

On my sonora concert the ID plate was under the turntable.

Below is a scan from Sonora's 1920 catalog. I believe your model is the "Elite."

George P.

Congrats on your Sonora. Sonora had some of the finest cabinets in my opinion. I own one of the Rare period models they made. Yours also has the wooden tone arm as well.
Yours definitely is the Elite model. I wouldn't do a thing to the cabinet it's perfect as is other than the lemon oil.
I use a blend of bees wax and carnauba wax on my machines. It's Howard's brand good stuff.
Congratulations again on your machine, nice one for your first purchase. Becarefull it gets addictive though buying these

Thank you all for your responses. I can say it looks great in my living room and have enjoyed some of the 78s that I also picked up with it. i understand I also have some work to do on what type of stylus to use. There were a few curved with a tip. They came in a round plastic container that says "Ruby $3.50 Up to 10,000 plays. Also a bunch of plain "steel?" stylus's came with it with no markings. I am looking forward to learning more about these phonographs. Thanks again, love this forum!

Gary

Those ruby tipped needles aren't for this machine & they'll hurt your records. They were only for use in a lightweight arm from decades later

Congrats on your acquisition. IMHO Sonora made some really beautiful cabinets for their machines and yours is certainly handsome.

Clay