by Joe_DS »
Sun Aug 22, 2010 7:03 pm
That's a beautiful looking Victrola.
The 8-12 was one of the Victor Orthophonic Models specifically designed for playing electrically recorded records with greater fidelity than earlier style Victrolas.
I'm not sure if you've been to the Victor Victrola site --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/ -- but this page describes the 8-12 --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/8-12.htmJudging from your photos, it looks like the original Orthophonic sound box may have been replaced at some point. This is the type that should be fitted to your Victrola:

With the proper Orthophonic sound box, your 8-12 is capable of reproducing bass down to 104 hertz***, which is well within the audible range, and the sound quality is more like an electrically amplified phonograph than an acoustic one. (This, providing the tone chamber is air tight.) At some point, you may want to hunt down a good condition replacement Orthophonic sound box. (These come up for sale quite often on sites such as eBay, etc.) You'll be amazed by the difference.
Here's a nice youtube video of a restored 8-12 --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oINRGIdc0Ps----------------------------------------------------------
***See: Acoustic Performance of Victrola Horns --
http://www.victor-victrola.com/Technical%20Articles.htm