Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

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melvind
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Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

Make: Columbia
Model: Small Gothic P 26
Serial #: 45-5656
Year(s) Made: 1919 - 1921
Original Cost: $675
Case/Cabinet Size: 52" high, 19" wide, 19" deep
Turntable/Mandrel: 12" cast iron
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Columbia #6
Motor: Columbia Universal Electric Motor - AC
Horn Dimensions: 8" wide, 10.5" high at the front opening
Reproduction Parts: None.
Missing Part: Light Cover
Current Value: $3500 - $4500
Interesting Facts: The cabinet for this and other period Grafonolas were made by the Orsenigo Company. Here is a link about that company and the machines they built once Columbia stopped ordering from them in 1921.

This document contains patents of several elaborate phonograph cabinets with patents belonging to the Orsenigo Company.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office:
https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhRLA ... &q&f=false
22 Orsenigo Cabinets.png
Images of all 4 sides of the machine. Note that all 4 sides are as well painted as the front. An amazing amount of detailing in the polychrome:
01 Front.jpg
01 Front copy.jpg
02 Right Side.jpg
02 Right Side copy.jpg
03 Back.jpg
03 Back copy.jpg
04 Left Side.jpg
04 Left Side copy.jpg
Last edited by melvind on Thu Mar 08, 2018 7:36 pm, edited 4 times in total.

melvind
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

Front Panel Volume Control:
05 Front Volume Control Loud.jpg
06 Front Volume Control Soft.jpg

melvind
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

The right side has a panel that opens to show the chamber containing the motor and the horn.
07 Right Side Door Latch.jpg
08 Right Side Door Opened.jpg
09 Motor and horn behind the door.jpg
10 Motor.jpg
Under the lid the is a chamber that contains the tonearm and turntable. New Needle Storage is on the right side top side of the area. There is a holder for used needles right below the reproducer. Also a round control for speed on the metal motor board. Next to it is a switch that will turn the light off when the lid is open. Normally down to engage the light when the lid is opened. A small button switch on the rim where the lid rests turns the light off and on.
11 Turntable Area 1.jpg
12 Turntable Area 3.jpg
Last edited by melvind on Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.

melvind
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

Figures on the four corners. These are hand carved and each Gothic machine I have seen has unique figures and polychrome coloring.
13 Front Left Figure.jpg
14 Front Right Figure.jpg
15 Back Left Figure.jpg
16 Back Right Figure.jpg
Last edited by melvind on Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

melvind
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

The motor and the stop switch recently repaired.
17 Stop Switch Gear Box 2.JPG
18 Stop Switch Gear Box 1.JPG
19 Motor after repairs.jpg
There is a thread where I asked about how the stop switch worked. It has some interesting information and comments.
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=34439

melvind
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

Patent and Serial Number Stickers (found on the underside of the motor and horn chamber):
20 Underside Patent Sticker.jpg
As far as I can tell this is the information shown on the Serial Number sticker:
Type P 26
Finish Polychrome
Serial # 45-5656
Motor # 16435
Factory 45
21 Underside Serial Number Sticker.jpg

Some Interesting other information about the Orsenigo Company.

This is an interesting Talking Machine Forum thread about a huge Orsenigo phonograph purchased by Jerry Blais.
Gigantic Orsenigo Purchase
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=28901

The Antique Phonograph journal article on the Orsenigo Company from March 2016. The Orsenigo Company made furniture and other things and for a time made phonograph cabinets for Columbia period Graofonolas.

If you are a member of APS you can use the Advanced Search to find the article.
1. Search for “Orsenigo Company”.
2. In the results list click on the link named “TAP-2016-03” which will open a PDF document.
3. Search or scroll down to the article.
Last edited by melvind on Tue Mar 06, 2018 10:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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barnettrp21122
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by barnettrp21122 »

That's a beautiful machine! I'm sure you'll treasure it!
Thanks for the info and pictures!
Bob
"Comparison is the thief of joy" Theodore Roosevelt

His Master's Voice Automatic 1A Exponential Gramophone Demonstration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi70G1Rzqpo

melvind
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by melvind »

Here are a couple of pages from the "Columbia Phonograph Companion II" used with the permission of Robert Baumbach. Many thanks to him for allowing me to use them.

The Columbia Small Gothic P-26 page:
22 Small Gothic.jpg
This is an interesting page discussing the Columbia Universal Motor (with some Star Trek humor added by the author):
23 Columbia Universal Motor.png
Last edited by melvind on Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:59 am, edited 2 times in total.

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audiophile102
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by audiophile102 »

It's truly a stunning cabinet which must have been very difficult to make. I'm especially grateful to you for adding it to the Featured Phonograph section of the forum. I find myself referring to it often and I don't understand why everyone with a great machine doesn't contribute to it. It helps to educate individuals like myself that are relatively new to the hobby.
"You can't take the phonographs nor the money with you, but the contentment the phonographs bring may well make your life better, and happier lives make the world a better place."

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alang
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Re: Featured Phonograph No. 135 - Columbia Small Gothic P 26

Post by alang »

What an interesting, beautiful and opulent machine. And in such perfect condition. I can't get over the craftsmanship and the advanced technology that was used to build such a machine. This must have been something really luxurious and special for someone to buy back then. Thank you so much for sharing with so many great detail pictures. I'm sure this is a treasured highlight in your collection.

Andreas

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