Brunswick Model 207

Hello!

I recently aquired this phonograph and was wondering if there was a way to find out what year it might have been made. Any help would be appreciated!

David

I did a search of old ads to see if I could spot a reference, and came up with this one from October 30, 1921, which describes the Brunswick 207 as a "New Model."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YS ... +207&hl=en

After looking at a few online photos, including those of one for sale on eBay at this time, I think that would be about the right time-frame. Exact production figures by model and serial number, unfortunately, do not exist.

HTH,
Joe

Thanks for the help! Whenever it was made, I know I'm enjoying it a lot! Not sure why the Victrola people thumb their noses at these...

dos0711 wrote:Thanks for the help! Whenever it was made, I know I'm enjoying it a lot! Not sure why the Victrola people thumb their noses at these...

I wouldn't necessarily say that antique phonograph & gramophone collectors "thumb their noses" at them, but certainly they do seem to take a back seat to the major brands.

In general, Brunswick phonographs are well made, and those equipped with the Ultona tone arm -- http://www.nipperhead.com/old/brult.htm -- have the advantage of playing the three types of records produced at the time -- Pathe vertical cut records, Edison Diamond Discs--also vertically modulated, and the standard "78s" which were laterally cut and used steel or fiber needles.

While the horn is a good design, unlike the Victor products prior to 1925, the Brunswick was fitted with a pot metal tonearm which can swell, crack and freeze up over time. Oftentimes, the reproducer cannot be removed from the tonearm and repaired with fresh gaskets--absolutely necessary in order to maximize sound quality and minimize record wear.

Starting in late 1926, Brunswick offered a line of acoustic Panatrope phonographs that were designed to play electrically recorded records wither greater fidelity than older style models. They are fitted with longer tone chambers, and sound boxes equipped with aluminum diaphragms, like the competing Victor Orthophonic and Columbia Viva-Tonal products. Unfortunately, while their tonearms follow a gradual, exponential taper, the Brunswick acoustic Panatrope horns expand too abruptly, which means that certain frequency ranges aren't transmitted very well. Possibly for this reason, they were never as popular as the similarly sized and priced Victor products. (Based on surviving examples, Victor also outsold the Columbia Viva-Tonal phonographs.)

There are a number of youtube videos showcasing Brunswick phonographs, as well as a few online articles, such as http://www.gracyk.com/brunswick.shtml To date, though, nobody has compiled a comprehensive database profiling all of the Brunswick models, as has been the case with Victor products.

Joe

Wow...you are a fountain of information! I got lucky I guess...my tone arm and reproducer move freely and it plays beautifully. I also have a Victor VV-50 which also plays nicely.