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Could this cabinet design be referred to as "Bombe"? Did Sonora ever use that term? I see that in the 1915 "Talking Machine World" they refer to it as "the bulge design." https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Talking-Machine-IDX/IDX/10s/Talking-Machine-1915-06-OCR-Page-0045.pdf#search="sonora invincible" (The link borrowed from a 2015 TMF post by BenjaminL.)

Another featured machine here with the narrative starting out something like, ", I know the xxx machine (in this case Amberola 50) probably isn’t the most interesting machine out there but...." when in fact it is really interesting, not just the low serial number but also a clear demonstration of how Edison didn't just put out new models periodically but rather transitioned, making the best use of what was available. Thanks for sharing Nate!

George, your posting—and others here—demonstrate that interesting provenance doesn’t end with the initial purchaser of a machine or the story of how it made its way from the original owner. Those histories are, of course, fascinating, but so are the later stories of how these machines eventually found their way into our collections. I also love the comments that appear throughout this forum such as, “Well, it’s only a Victor III, but…” or “only a Model C GEM, but…”. Those of us who have been around awhile have come to regard some of these as more common machines, but when I first started collecting, many of those “common” machines were absolute holy grails the first time I laid eyes on them.

I didn't know there was such an adapted GEM in existence Jerry. Even without the ICS configuration, the condition is really excellent. I agree with you regarding not converting it to play regular cylinders. I wouldn't either. Even if you kept the larger mandrel pully with the intent of converting it back later, it could be misplaced. Also, why take apart such a clean machine if you don't have to!

What an amazing piece. Your brief history also adds alot of interesting information. Thanks for sharing!

Model:Sonora Invincible Serial #: 190603 Year(s) Made: 1916 Original Cost: No. 1 $375. Mahogany (Special Order Cireassin or American Walnut $30 extra) Case/Cabinet Size: Width 24 inches, Height 52 inches, depth 24 inches Turntable: 12-Inch Reproducer/Sound-Box: Sonora, with swiveling arm assembly to play lateral and vertical cut discs. Motor: Extra Heavy, Triple Spring, Gold Plated, Swiss made Plays Nearly 45 Minutes or Fifteen 10 inch Records. Horn Dimensions: Internal Reproduction Parts: None Current Value: $800.00 (NFS) Interesting Facts: A brief history of the Sonora Invincible Phonograph with its famous Bulge sided Ornate Cabinet, and other unique Features. Sonora was founded in the early 19teens and offered this unique style of Cabinetry on its top of the line models such as the Supreme, Invincible, Grand, Elite, and Baby Grand. Each machine came with an Official Sonora Guarantee Certificate, which protected the Phonograph against any material defects for 1 year. Each certificate contained the facsimile signature of George Brightman, the President of Sonora, and on the reverse side was proudly listed all of the patents and their origins under which Sonora produced its phonographs. The Cabinets also had the Sonora Patented Record Storage just below the horn, as well as a handy pull out Storage drawer where you could keep a few more rcords. Sonora's Bulge sided Cabinets were made and patented by The Herzog Art Cabinet Co. of Saginaw Michigan, a Company which was started by John Herzog back around the turn of the last century and specialized in the manufacture of artistic furniture, Cabinets, and also made early Cylinder storage cabinets for the Then fledgling Phonograph Industry. It's most remembered design were these famous bulge sided cabinets which were offered by Sonora. Sonora later moved its production facilities to Saginaw in 1917, and two years later purchased the entire facilities owned and operated by John Herzog. Herzog was so proud and enamored to his bulge sided cabinet design, that he modeled the porch on his Home in Saginaw after it, and also had his Gardeners trim some of the huge hedges on his estate in that shape as well. The Sonora Co. continued its success into the 1920's but when with the great depression of 1929, and record and phonograph sales soon falling to but a small fraction of pre depression numbers, the Company went bankrupt in 1930.

Thanks NateO! I do believe more vintage stuff like this will come out of the woodwork. The vendor was from Wisconsin but the records came from California. So they had quite a trip to get to me. The small VV-VI was a pleasant surprise at a great price point. But I believe the generational change has made these not as coveted as they used to be. At this same flea market there were several portable electronic players. An Admiral portable with two stereo speakers doubling as the cover was $150. It was a tube unit so it would also need extensive recapping. And of course the changer would need rebuilding. The little Victrola being mechanical would be much easier for a Neanderthal black smith mechanic like me to understand!😜

Brilliant - thanks!

Beautiful presentation! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Apparently, it's ended: October 16, 2025 - February 8, 2026

Edison Firestone Phonograph model B serial #106983. It’s in rough shape but motor still winds up and spins. For parts or restoration. It was given to me by a freind. You can pick it up in Ormond Beach, FL.

I might be in Madrid in the fall. Until when will the exhibition be on? Rick

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These demos are great! Instructive, yet somehow whimsical. I think it's the subtle sound effects that I like. Nice job! George P.

A beautiful, educational, and entertaining display, Aurea! Congratulations! George P.

No mold

I have forty cylinders in wonderfull condition brown wax busy bee I am sorting them out matching boxes and lids all boxes are in excellent condition . I also have the player two horns and parts I will be looking to sell as soon as I get things sorted out I would like to be excepted in to this group I am still waiting

How often do we really get to see these tiny palm-sized gramophones the way they were meant to be experienced: unfolded, assembled, handled, and brought into use? As part of the Talking Machines exhibition project, I developed two short stop-motion films dedicated to two remarkable ultra-portable gramophones: the Swiss Mikiphone and the British Peter Pan. What interested me most while working with these machines was that they are almost impossible to fully understand when simply placed inside a display case. Their logic only really appears through movement: unfolding them, assembling them, fitting the parts together, and watching these miniature objects transform into fully functional talking machines. The films were conceived partly as visual studies of the machines themselves, and partly as demonstrations of how these extraordinarily compact gramophones were actually handled and brought into use. Folded Sound: Mikiphone https://youtu.be/pNXgZNug0Sw Folded Sound: Peter Pan https://youtu.be/kKmCGw87Wwo

After more than a year of work, I am very excited to finally share the virtual version of Talking Machines: The Art of Capturing Sound, the exhibition I curated at the Biblioteca Nacional de España (Spanish National Library) in Madrid. The exhibition brings together phonographs, gramophones, cylinders, records, advertisements, catalogs, and a wide range of historical sound objects from institutional and private collections, many rarely shown publicly. One of the main goals of the project was to move beyond the static museum display and try to recreate something closer to the real experience of these machines: how they sounded, how they were handled, how they transformed listening itself. The online version includes an interactive virtual tour, playable historical audio, detailed object information, and optional 3D/VR exploration. I thought many people here might especially enjoy it. Virtual exhibition: https://www.bne.es/es/visitanos/visitas-virtuales/maquinas-parlantes/visita.html

Thanks all! This is one machine I'm definitely proud to own. In fact, it may even be my favorite just because it's so unique. It was a lucky Facebook marketplace find, and I'm deeply indebted to some fellow collectors who helped get it to me!

That's a great find, especially with that original sleeve. I'd say getting a Billy Murray ARTo was a real bonus, since he was only freelancing for a brief window in 1919 or 1920. I also don't find a lot of phonograph stuff in the wild anymore. Maybe I should start getting back out there...

Thanks for pointing this out, Jerry!

One of the things I love about this hobby is that no matter how long you're into it, there's always something new to discover. Great research, Nate!

I'd recommend combine topics with the other, (if you reach out the admin Rod) so they're together.

Thanks Nate! What a cool example and with a lot of Edison history behind it. It would be easy to cast off as a Frankenphone were it not for your great research! It is truly a special machine. In my view, no machine is too common to post here as long as it has a special place in someone's collection. Every machine has a unique story to tell, but the story is not often known. When it is, such as with your 50, it makes any machine special. Thanks!!