The Victor 'Orthophonic' Victrola and Records

The Western Electric 'Westrex' electrical recording process developed by Maxfield and Harrison was licensed in 1925 to the Victor Talking Machine Company, which was desperate for something new to boost slumping sales. Victor designers, in cooperation with WE engineers, used the mechanical side of the electrical recording formula to design a mechanical phonograph to optimally play back the electrical recordings. Several models were designed and the flagship model was known as the Victor 'Orthophonic' Credenza -- 'Orthophonic' being Victor's advertising term for the electrical recording process, and 'Credenza' after the type of furniture cabinet used to house the mechanism. The acoustical sound reproduction parts of the Credenza were designed to mirror the electrical process. The horn chamber split twice -- vertically and horizontally -- in order to 'fold' the horn upon itself so that it would fit into the cabinet, yet provide the precise volume air column contained within the properly tapering rate of expansion of the horn chamber, as specified by the Maxfield and Harrisons' formula.

The new process recordings played back on the new Victrolas were stunning in comparison to the older acoustical recordings -- they were much louder and even more life-like than the upstart radio. Victor blitzed the print media with ads stating that something new would be in Victor dealerships the day after Thanksgiving, 1925 -- just in time for Christmas. Crowds lined up around the block to hear the new Orthophonic Victrolas and records, and Victor took millions of dollars in orders, assuring the companies financial future until the stock market crash of 1929. Within months, every record company in the country either licensed the WE process, or went out of business. The electrical revolution was complete.