SONORA BARCAROLLE (1923-24). Courtesy of Kate MacCormack

Not to be confused with the Sonora Barcarolle of 1916 which was a table model. (Ad pictured below)

The Sonora Barcarolle was introduced in December 1922 as one of the new 1923 Sonora models. It was priced at $150 as a smaller alternative to the very popular "Baby Grand". It seems to only have been produced for two years, the last advert being in Dec 1924. The Barcarolle has many of the features of the Baby Grand Sonora, including the costly bulge "bombe" construction, an exclusive Sonora feature.

This one is located in Australia. It is completely American and must have been imported directly from the States and sold by Allan & Co. Pty. Ltd. of Collins St Melbourne. A large number of Australian Sonora's were assembled in Australia using American hardware and Swiss motors which were placed in locally made cabinets.

This Barcarolle came in for a service. It was dismantled, cleaned and polished. The soundbox was rebuilt. The original motor was a two-spring Paillard 30R. The broken springs were replaced but one of the main gear bearing was sheered so the motor was replaced with a two-spring Paillard PFS.

A brief history of Sonora.

• Sonora Chime Company started making chime clocks around 1900.
• In 1909, Sonora started selling "gramophones" made by Paillard, the ubiquitous Swiss company that made "Phono" parts for the world. They were sued by Victor for infringement of its Berliner patents.
• The Sonora Chime Company was reincorporated in February of 1913 as the Sonora Phonograph Company by its founder, George Brightson.
• In 1913, they importing phonograph motors from Paillard through an intermediate. All Sonoras use motors and soundboxes made by Paillard, often unmarked.
• Sonora Phonograph Co of NY went bankrupt in 1930.