Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
Post Reply
phonodesbois
Victor II
Posts: 256
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:33 am
Location: France

Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by phonodesbois »

Although similar to a Zonophone crank, it looks way to big (18cm long!). The handle itself is in brass.
So gramophone or music box?
Thanks,
Jeff
Attachments
DSC_0004.JPG
DSC_0006.JPG
DSC_0007.JPG

Schlick
Victor II
Posts: 272
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:34 pm

Re: Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by Schlick »

Jeff,

First: I know NOTHING about this! But let's not let that stop me from giving you my opinion!!!

"Grandfather" clock crank?

-Michael

phonodesbois
Victor II
Posts: 256
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:33 am
Location: France

Re: Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by phonodesbois »

Hi Michael and thanks for trying!!!
Although a "Grandfather" clock is huge, in fact it just needs a very small crank.
So, I will assume that this large crank is for a music box and my Zonophone will remain orphan (I mean without his crank.)
Thanks again,
Jeff

JerryVan
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 5277
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:08 pm
Location: Southeast MI

Re: Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by JerryVan »

It's a Zonophone crank. I don't know for what model. The knob however should be wood. The thing I can't tell from your photos is if the rest of the crank is also a nicely made reproduction. Any signs of nickle plating? If you look into the end of the crank, can you see a cross pin, that would engage with a Zonophone motor shaft?

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by Curt A »

NOT a Zonophone crank in my opinion... It appears to be a Symphonion music box crank, which is almost identical to a Zonophone crank.
"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

phonodesbois
Victor II
Posts: 256
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:33 am
Location: France

Re: Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by phonodesbois »

JerryVan wrote:It's a Zonophone crank. I don't know for what model. The knob however should be wood. The thing I can't tell from your photos is if the rest of the crank is also a nicely made reproduction. Any signs of nickle plating? If you look into the end of the crank, can you see a cross pin, that would engage with a Zonophone motor shaft?
It does have the pin, signs of nickle plating and the brass knob is original.
Given its size, I think that Curt is right and that it is a Symphonion crank (music box as their gramophone were small and rather fragile) ;
Thanks all for your input,
Jeff
Attachments
symphonion gramophone.JPG

JerryVan
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 5277
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:08 pm
Location: Southeast MI

Re: Winding handle (crank) for Zonophone or music box?

Post by JerryVan »

phonodesbois wrote:
JerryVan wrote:It's a Zonophone crank. I don't know for what model. The knob however should be wood. The thing I can't tell from your photos is if the rest of the crank is also a nicely made reproduction. Any signs of nickle plating? If you look into the end of the crank, can you see a cross pin, that would engage with a Zonophone motor shaft?
It does have the pin, signs of nickle plating and the brass knob is original.
Given its size, I think that Curt is right and that it is a Symphonion crank (music box as their gramophone were small and rather fragile) ;
Thanks all for your input,
Jeff
Well then, if the brass knob is original, as you believe, then no, it wouldn't be for a Zonophone. Then again, I've never seen a brass knob on a Symphonion either, but I guess I probably have not "seen it all". Any Symphonion crank that I have seen seems to have a more slender "S" curve and a shaft with a much shorter, large diameter section. Also, a very different knob, be it brass or wood. That brass knob looks very much like a Zonophone shape. Personally, I doubt that it's original, but you have it in front of you, to look at closely, and I do not.

Post Reply