Victor Orthophonic Credenza!!

.

recognize that diaphragm shape??  yep.. Western Electric 555.... 

we have discussed Harrison and this masterpiece before.. but really look at it... I have been truly studying the patent for this one again of late.. Dunker popped it back into my inbox at the exact perfect moment... Harrison truly figured it out... did the math... and understood what was going on... this thing is quite flat from below 100 cycles to 5000 cycles!  that is crazy... and needless to say it was so much better than the competition that it actually sold quite well despite the price... win one for quality!  and best of all, that means you can find them today... in good condition... and in surprisingly high numbers... this one popped up on Craigslist for $200... with three reproducers (soundboxes) and a stack of Orthophonic records... how could I not?

you will usually find a secondary badge on them.. this is the original reseller.... in the case of this one, obviously Wurlitzer down in the city.. 

the official Victor badge... this unit became the VV 8-30... but from my understanding, the Credenza label tends to be the first year of production.. and indeed this one is dated 1925... 

this is some serious Western Electric looking work... both the patent sticker above..

and that horn from behind... amazing... don't forget Victor made the 12a.... 

and the reproducers... 

the pot metal versions are known for cracking.. but they can still be easily sealed.. 

the one in the back is brass, and likely the original to this unit... 

this is what she looks like on the outside... 

and a few selections..

I love it.. "The Bird" on sax... wonder who he owed money to?

I love the labels, too... 

Peterson is properly heavy on the Orthophonic... found some Art Tatum, Coleman Hawkins... have not pulled my Chess and Checker stack yet... might need some white lightning for that... and a power outage.. 

these are so good... I actually forgot I had them...  just

 a mental note of "a crate of Jazz 78's from Memphis"...

I must say there is something amazing about spinning this way.. you wind it up... you play your one tune... and you really listen to it... and because it is mono, you listen in that mono way... and this thing is definitely alive... it has jump in spades.. and is actually a touch too loud on some recordings.. with NO ELECTRICITY.. think about that... 

so now I must bow again... Henry Harrison... he figured out the proper way to do this and then actually did it.. not tweaking to make something slightly better.... this is how it should be done... truly amazing.. perhaps the first, last, and best assault on a music reproduction system for domestic use... 

peace,

me