New help identifying a Sonora

Q&A about Talking Machines from the pre-electronic era (approx. 1885-1928).



Topic author
NewGuy
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Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:24 am

New help identifying a Sonora

by NewGuy » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:44 am

Hello,

I just bought my first victrola, a Sonora. I see some others have done the same. Well, my questions are pretty mush the same as theirs. I'm looking for a model #, approx. year of manufacture, a picture of what it looked like brand new, a manual and any info I can get on this.



Image


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Thank you so much for any help!!


Joe_DS
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Location: San Francisco, California, USA

Re: New help identifying a Sonora

by Joe_DS » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:31 pm

That looks like it might be a Sonora Troubadour model, circa 1920. There's a photo of one on this page -- http://majesticrecord.com/myphonos2.htm

The Sonora Nocturne, illustrated in the manual which starts on this page -- http://www.nipperhead.com/old/sonora01.htm -- is also similar.

Would it be possible to post a photo of the full cabinet.

One thing I suspect is that the grille on your machine is not original.


Topic author
NewGuy
Junior Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:24 am

Re: New help identifying a Sonora

by NewGuy » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:06 am

Thanks Joe.

I will get a full picture but it will have to wait till the weekend.

I did a little researching. So far here is what I found out.

I do not think it is either a Troubadour or a Nocturne. First, the 3 needle holders i have are in the shape of an 'L', not '3 in a row'. Second, the doors I have are double doors. The Troubadour and Nocturne have one larger door. 3rdly, the shelves for the records are horizontal, the others are verticle.

I looked a little closer at the sound box. It says Patented July 2, 1918. I don't know if they all say this or not.

I lifed up the turntable. I noticed there are 4 very small holes that indicate there was some sort of plate here at one time. Would that plate have had the model # or just a patent # and the Sonora name?

Thanks again! Can't wait to find out all this info. I feel like Columbo!

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