Stopped by an antique store on Rte. 85 this afternoon, and encountered an odd machine. Alas, I didn't have a camera, so I'll have to describe it.
The case was japanned tin, about 11-12" square, and about 8" high, with a small grille near the bottom, and decorated with a simple frieze of some composition like linoleum. The mechanism, tone arm and reproducer were clearly Columbia, with the crank and speed control both on the right side; but no identification except a patent label on the bottom.
It looked in decent original condition; and there was some residual power in the spring, as it started turning (somewhat noisily, though) when I lifted the needle off.
Has anyone encountered a Columbia client machine of this type? Any catalog illustrations?
Also, I am loth to pick up another machine to work on; but it was unusual enough to tempt me, and the tag price was $60. Decisions, decisions...
Bill
Tinplate Columbia?
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
Sounds like a Europa. For $60 it would be a good buy if complete.
There's one pictured on page 165 of Discovering Antique Phonographs.
George P.
There's one pictured on page 165 of Discovering Antique Phonographs.
George P.
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
Thanks! I'll swing by there soon.phonogfp wrote:Sounds like a Europa. For $60 it would be a good buy if complete.
There's one pictured on page 165 of Discovering Antique Phonographs.
George P.
Bill
Edit: found the image!
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
That's the baby! Good luck - -
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
As George said, it's a Columbia Europa, which is extremely hard to find for sale... It came in two versions: a backmount horn machine and a hornless one, like your picture. I have only encountered two of these and I bought one of them for over $200. It is scarce because it was made in Germany just before WWI and when WWI broke out, the importation of these was stopped. Because they were cheap at the time, a lot of people scrapped them, since they did not want anything German made...
If the decorated portion around the machine is in good condition, this is a desirable machine. The decoration was made of pressed paper and is very fragile, so be careful with it...
PS: Bill, if you really don't want to mess with another machine, let me know where it is and I'll take it...
If the decorated portion around the machine is in good condition, this is a desirable machine. The decoration was made of pressed paper and is very fragile, so be careful with it...
PS: Bill, if you really don't want to mess with another machine, let me know where it is and I'll take it...
"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
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
I had an outside horn version Europa many years ago that I sold and still regret selling.
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 14&t=32956
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 14&t=32956
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek
I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar
I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
At the same time Columbia imported a quantity of German embossed horns with screw threads for Columbia elbows- these do turn up on occasion.Curt A wrote:As George said, it's a Columbia Europa, which is extremely hard to find for sale... It came in two versions: a backmount horn machine and a hornless one, like your picture. I have only encountered two of these and I bought one of them for over $200. It is scarce because it was made in Germany just before WWI and when WWI broke out, the importation of these was stopped. Because they were cheap at the time, a lot of people scrapped them, since they did not want anything German made...
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
I'll head up there tomorrow to get it. But if you're really eager, you can travel up to southeast CT to claim it...Curt A wrote:As George said, it's a Columbia Europa, which is extremely hard to find for sale... It came in two versions: a backmount horn machine and a hornless one, like your picture. I have only encountered two of these and I bought one of them for over $200. It is scarce because it was made in Germany just before WWI and when WWI broke out, the importation of these was stopped. Because they were cheap at the time, a lot of people scrapped them, since they did not want anything German made...
If the decorated portion around the machine is in good condition, this is a desirable machine. The decoration was made of pressed paper and is very fragile, so be careful with it...
PS: Bill, if you really don't want to mess with another machine, let me know where it is and I'll take it...
The decorated portion is good: just a little bit in the back is loose.
Bill
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
And, here's the little darling, home at last...
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Re: Tinplate Columbia?
You did well - - congratulations!
George P.
George P.