Need help identifying a machine, possibly british made.
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- Victor Jr
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 12:56 am
Need help identifying a machine, possibly british made.
good day all, i recently picked up a table top player with no external markings, I was hoping that someone could help me identify the model. All I can find is generic info about the company. I will attach photos of the unit. it needs some work, but i really liked the horn, which is why i bought it. any help would be appreciated. the stamp on the motor and the name on the reproducer are the only marks on it.
- epigramophone
- Victor Monarch Special
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- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Need help identifying a machine, possibly british made.
Edison Bell gramophones of this period were usually branded as "Discaphones".
There are no redundant holes in the motor board to suggest that the Edison Bell motor is a replacement, so it is reasonable to assume that the machine is by Edison Bell. Perhaps someone with a period Edison Bell catalogue can verify this.
The machine does, however, appear to have been modified. The 10 inch turntable with it's brown painted rim probably dates from the 1930's or later, and the position of the brake suggests that the original turntable would have been of 12 inches diameter.
The horn appears to have been extended at the narrow end with a non-original looking (home made?) elbow.
Here are some pictures which may be helpful :
There are no redundant holes in the motor board to suggest that the Edison Bell motor is a replacement, so it is reasonable to assume that the machine is by Edison Bell. Perhaps someone with a period Edison Bell catalogue can verify this.
The machine does, however, appear to have been modified. The 10 inch turntable with it's brown painted rim probably dates from the 1930's or later, and the position of the brake suggests that the original turntable would have been of 12 inches diameter.
The horn appears to have been extended at the narrow end with a non-original looking (home made?) elbow.
Here are some pictures which may be helpful :
- Attachments
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- Discaphone.jpg (15.1 KiB) Viewed 606 times
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- transfer.jpg (35.66 KiB) Viewed 606 times
- Curt A
- Victor Monarch Special
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Re: Need help identifying a machine, possibly british made.
It's a nice looking machine, whatever it's origin...
"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.
"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife
- jamiegramo
- Victor III
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Re: Need help identifying a machine, possibly british made.
I had a glance through the Edison Bell catalogues of 1911-15, I could not see this model but yours would be later as it has a goose-neck tonearm and the early ones have a one piece tonearm. Edison Bell gramophones were sold with a variety of different horns including the type you have, so that could be correct even if the elbow is replaced. The King soundbox was an Edison Bell product. I wonder if someone has painted the turntable edge? Maybe the nickel peeled-off. The cloth looks replaced but otherwise the turntable appears correct to me.
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Online
- Victor I
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Re: Need help identifying a machine, possibly british made.
The traces of soldering at the neck ( tried to hide under the paint) of the horn suggests that an original horn has been extended by some enthusiast.