CLARAVOX REPRODUCER

[downsouth]

OK guys, I came across something really cool today that I have not seen in action for myself let alone owned one till now. I bought some parts along with a junker machine and I was handed a box with this reproducer in it. At first glance I kindof had an idea as to what it might be, but it was not until I returned home and tried it out that it became clear. Incase some of you don't know, it is an adapter to play Edison DD records on a Victor machine. I know, I have played hundreds of regular 78's on my Edison with an adapter, but this was the first time I played an Edison DD record on a Victor and I have to admit it was pretty cool. Not too bad sounding either. Does anybody out there have such a contraption? I think one sold on Ebay sometime last year, but this is the first one I have ran across and it is definitely a keeper!

Wes

[barnettrp21122]

I have one of these, and Edison discs sound wonderful used on a Victor VI with a wooden horn!
I found mine at the end of the Wayne phonograph show a few years back at a very good price.
I'm really happy with it! This hasn't been rebuilt, but I believe you could replace the gasket material with the same type used in Exhibition reproducers.
Here are a couple pics:

Bob

[downsouth]

Hey Bob, That's it exactly! I did not get the nice box and all, but I am very pleased with getting something totally new for me to experiment with. Infact, I just played it on one of my Victor III's with a speartip horn and it sounded amazing. I have an adapter for reducing the size of the Orthophonic tonearm down to the size of an Exhibition or Victrola #2, so I now want to hear it on my Credenza tomorrow! I am curious to see what kind of sound I will get with that large of a horn. Thanks for posting the photos. I don't know what a "good price" is for one of these, but could care less about the other items I got today since i got this cool little gadget!

Wes

[estott]

That's the same design that Bush & Lane used on their Duo Vox phonographs- an interesting high end machine with a double tone arm, one head for lateral, one head for vertical

http://www.lagparty.org/~wyatt/duovoxpage.html

[Valecnik]

I've come across a couple of these over the years, both nickel ones. I think they sound good too, a bit tinny sounding compared to a DD reproducer. I'm sure a rebuild would help that to some degree but since I've got a DD machine in the living room close I've never bothered.

Nice to get one with the original box like that!

[gramophoneshane]

They look like a very nice reproducer. I've got a similar reproducer for playing DD's on a Victrola made by Jewel of Chicago, but it has a normal needle bar & composition diaphragm. It sounds quite nice, but is lacking in volume compared to an Edison machine.
The needle bar arrangement on the Claravox looks more sophisticated, and I'd imagine that & the cork overlay on the diaphragm would give closer reproduction to an Edison reproducer.
How does the volume of these compare to an Edison machine?

[downsouth]

It produces good volume and to me sounds clearer than what the Edison DD reproducer would put out.

Wes

[Valecnik]

It produces good volume and to me sounds clearer than what the Edison DD reproducer would put out.

Wes

Hmmm at least in my case I'd partially disagree. It's about the same on volume but not much on the low end. When I've compared side by side in the same room an A250 and a Vic V, wood horn and the Claravox the A250 wins out.

[downsouth]

Maybe to me it's due to the fact that I just got it and it is something new as to why it seems to sound better. Also, I have not compared it to an actual DD reproducer yet, but I am sure that will happen.

Wes

[Valecnik]

Maybe to me it's due to the fact that I just got it and it is something new as to why it seems to sound better. Also, I have not compared it to an actual DD reproducer yet, but I am sure that will happen.

Wes

Good point, Also a consideration in my case is that the DD reproducer was rebuilt and the Claravox not...