Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
An update on the Grand: I didn't end up getting it; the price was too high, and I was a put off by the fact that the record filing system was completely gone. It was strange, actually -- there were no vertical wooden slats in the storage compartment, just two horizontal shelves. I couldn't figure how it could have accommodated the folders. The tone arm was metal (gold-plated), and the cabinet was oak; in doing research, I found lots of photos online of the Grand in oak, but none in mahogany. Has anyone ever seen one? And did Sonora make tone arms in oak, too, or was metal the only option if you got an oak cabinet? Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 12:56:11 + From: bruce78...@comcast.net To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? The wood tone arms occasionally show up for sale on ebay. But the hardest part of that to find is a the wooden base. I spotted one on line a few years ago, and inquired of the seller if he happened to have the base as well. He did. So I converted the metal tone are Elite to one with a wooden Town arm, with the two reproducers (for vertical and lateral records). Bruce - Original Message - From: Stan Stanford s...@clarphon.com To: Antique Phonograph List phono-l@oldcrank.org Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 2:04:26 AM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? The Elite is the 5th model down with the Supreme being No. 1. As Bob said, wooden tone arms could be on several of the top models including yours, but all except the Supreme, could have metal tone arms. I have a Supreme and it came with 2 wooden tone arms with different reproducers: one for lateral and the other for vertical cut records. Yes, the complete tone arm on my Supreme is easily removable. Stan -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:40 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Thanks, Stan. I have a mahogany Sonora Elite, with a wooden tone arm. Would that model have been a level (or two) below this one, then? From: s...@clarphon.com To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:48:24 -0700 Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? I think this is the Grand..at least the grill looks like the grill on the Grand from a Catalogue that I have. So it's the third one down after the Supreme and Invincible. Stan Stanford -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 3:29 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/a ttachm ent.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
The Elite is the 5th model down with the Supreme being No. 1.As Bob said, wooden tone arms could be on several of the top models including yours, but all except the Supreme, could have metal tone arms. I have a Supreme and it came with 2 wooden tone arms with different reproducers: one for lateral and the other for vertical cut records. Yes, the complete tone arm on my Supreme is easily removable. Stan -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:40 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Thanks, Stan. I have a mahogany Sonora Elite, with a wooden tone arm. Would that model have been a level (or two) below this one, then? From: s...@clarphon.com To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:48:24 -0700 Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? I think this is the Grand..at least the grill looks like the grill on the Grand from a Catalogue that I have. So it's the third one down after the Supreme and Invincible. Stan Stanford -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 3:29 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/a ttachm ent.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
The wood tone arms occasionally show up for sale on ebay. But the hardest part of that to find is a the wooden base. I spotted one on line a few years ago, and inquired of the seller if he happened to have the base as well. He did. So I converted the metal tone are Elite to one with a wooden Town arm, with the two reproducers (for vertical and lateral records). Bruce - Original Message - From: Stan Stanford s...@clarphon.com To: Antique Phonograph List phono-l@oldcrank.org Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 2:04:26 AM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? The Elite is the 5th model down with the Supreme being No. 1. As Bob said, wooden tone arms could be on several of the top models including yours, but all except the Supreme, could have metal tone arms. I have a Supreme and it came with 2 wooden tone arms with different reproducers: one for lateral and the other for vertical cut records. Yes, the complete tone arm on my Supreme is easily removable. Stan -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:40 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Thanks, Stan. I have a mahogany Sonora Elite, with a wooden tone arm. Would that model have been a level (or two) below this one, then? From: s...@clarphon.com To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:48:24 -0700 Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? I think this is the Grand..at least the grill looks like the grill on the Grand from a Catalogue that I have. So it's the third one down after the Supreme and Invincible. Stan Stanford -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 3:29 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/a ttachm ent.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
I have that same machine in oak. I don't have my catalog handy, but I think it's an Elite, the fourth one down from the Invincible(the highest). My fittings are nickel plated. I can't tell by yours if the hardware is nickel or gold. Sonora Bombe style machines are scarce in Oak. There is a picture of one on the cover of Discovering Antique Phonographs by Tim Fabrizio and George Paul. Harvey Kravitz On Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:16 PM, Richard richard_ru...@hotmail.com wrote: Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachment.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
I think this is the Grand..at least the grill looks like the grill on the Grand from a Catalogue that I have. So it's the third one down after the Supreme and Invincible. Stan Stanford -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 3:29 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachm ent.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
Thanks, Stan. I have a mahogany Sonora Elite, with a wooden tone arm. Would that model have been a level (or two) below this one, then? From: s...@clarphon.com To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:48:24 -0700 Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? I think this is the Grand..at least the grill looks like the grill on the Grand from a Catalogue that I have. So it's the third one down after the Supreme and Invincible. Stan Stanford -Original Message- From: phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org [mailto:phono-l-boun...@oldcrank.org] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 3:29 PM To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachm ent.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
The ones on this one look to be gold-plated. I wonder why oak is so uncommon on these machines -- was it just out of style at that point? I assume these are all post-WWI machines. Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:37:03 -0700 From: harveykrav...@yahoo.com To: phono-l@oldcrank.org Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? I have that same machine in oak. I don't have my catalog handy, but I think it's an Elite, the fourth one down from the Invincible(the highest). My fittings are nickel plated. I can't tell by yours if the hardware is nickel or gold. Sonora Bombe style machines are scarce in Oak. There is a picture of one on the cover of Discovering Antique Phonographs by Tim Fabrizio and George Paul. Harvey Kravitz On Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:16 PM, Richard richard_ru...@hotmail.com wrote: Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachment.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
Just for the heck of it, pull out the bottom draw flip it over and look on the bottom. sometimes you will see the Model of the Machine stamped on the bottom, Mine is stamped Elite. Good Luck. Bruce - Original Message - From: harvey kravitz harveykrav...@yahoo.com To: Antique Phonograph List phono-l@oldcrank.org Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 7:37:03 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora? I have that same machine in oak. I don't have my catalog handy, but I think it's an Elite, the fourth one down from the Invincible(the highest). My fittings are nickel plated. I can't tell by yours if the hardware is nickel or gold. Sonora Bombe style machines are scarce in Oak. There is a picture of one on the cover of Discovering Antique Phonographs by Tim Fabrizio and George Paul. Harvey Kravitz On Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:16 PM, Richard richard_ru...@hotmail.com wrote: Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachment.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
It's a Grand. They cost $250 in golden, fumed, early english, or mission oak, brown mahogany, or mahogany. 24w x 51h x 24d. It's the lesser of the top three. The others were the Invincible I ($375) and II ($500, because it had the wood tonearm added) and the Supreme - a fugly monster which was $1000, including a matching record cabinet. Bombe cabinet models below it were the Elite and the Baby Grand. Sent from my iPhone -- Peter pjfra...@mac.com On Mar 19, 2014, at 3:28 PM, Richard richard_ru...@hotmail.com wrote: Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachment.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
Re: [Phono-L] Can anyone identify this Sonora?
This is a Sonora Grand (third from top of the line --- first the Supreme, followed by the Invincible, then the Grand). No, you should not be surprised by the metal tonearm. All Supremes do have wooden tonearms as far as I know, but not all Grands or Invincibles have them --- some had metal tonearms. Examples of high-end Sonoras in oak are harder to come by than the more common mahogany ones. I have never seen an oak Sonora with an oak tonearm, although they were supposedly available according to Sonora machine catalogs. I have asked some of the biggest collectors/dealers in the country about the existence of oak Sonora tonearms --- none have ever actually seen an oak Sonora tonearm. I can send more pics of machines if needed. Regards, Bob On Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 5:28 PM, Richard richard_ru...@hotmail.com wrote: Can anyone tell me which model of Sonora phonograph this is? It looks to be one of their higher-end bombe machines, but I've always had trouble identifying particular Sonora models. If it is a higher-end machine, should I be surprised that it doesn't have a wooden tone arm? (Do those wooden tone arms really sound better, for that matter?) And am I the only one who's never seen a Sonora in oak before? It seems to me every one I've ever seen has been mahogany. Thoughts?Oh, and if anyone has one of these and would like to share photos of it, I'd appreciate it; I'm especially curious about what it's supposed to look like with the doors open. -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: mystery sonora.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 31338 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/b6195a43/attachment.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 001206-006 GRAND.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 39787 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/45117266/attachment.jpg -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 010311-012 INVINCIBLE.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 86905 bytes Desc: not available URL: http://oldcrank.org/pipermail/phono-l/attachments/20140319/45117266/attachment-0001.jpg ___ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
