Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
kseely
Victor Jr
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2019 7:25 am

Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by kseely »

Hello – I’m looking for confirmation if the machine I have is a Columbia Europa. Based on what I have seen in this forum, I think it may be but there is no brand marking as far as I can see. This machine has a green metal base with a black paperlike wrap and outside horn. The only information I see is a patent label glued to the bottom. Please excuse my lack of proper terminology I have no experience with phonographs, etc. If someone can help Identify make, model, dating and value I would appreciate it. Thank you.
Attachments
Europa Pictures.docx
(575.84 KiB) Downloaded 124 times

estott
Victor Monarch
Posts: 4172
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:23 pm
Personal Text: I have good days...this might not be one of them
Location: Albany NY

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by estott »

Yes, that is a Columbia Europa.

soundgen
Victor V
Posts: 2996
Joined: Mon May 13, 2013 2:04 pm
Contact:

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by soundgen »

pics , why is the soundbox facing the wrong way ?

https://oldcrank.com/collection/europa_ ... nless.html
Attachments
acole1.png
acole1.png (204.06 KiB) Viewed 1705 times
acole2.png
acole2.png (177.3 KiB) Viewed 1705 times
acoe3.png
acoe3.png (182.5 KiB) Viewed 1705 times

User avatar
gramophone-georg
Victor VI
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm
Personal Text: Northwest Of Normal
Location: Eugene/ Springfield Oregon USA

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by gramophone-georg »

Yes, it's a Europa with what appears to be an incorrect arm- soundbox is pointing the wrong way.

I had a nearly identical machine years ago that I sold and I still regret it. Mine was dark green with a leather brown colored wrap. Mine had a "Columbia Records" decal on the base.

Here's a pic of my machine, looking quite dusty, on the WWW. Wish I had more pictures.
Image

Mine was unusual, even for these incredibly scarce machines, in that they were supposedly made in USA with Lyric parts from Imperial Germany, but the joint venture collapsed because of WW1 hostilities. Yet, mine had a 1920s Columbia Records decal which was obviously original, and it had a stop/ speed control that was definitely very early 20s, so I have no idea what went on there. It was in quite sorry condition when I got it- I did a painstaking restoration on it, mixing my own matching paint colors and doing a LOT of "body work" on the dented metal case. as well as re- nickeling all the nickel parts. Fortunately the decal area was intact and I was able to blend the paint.
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek

I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar

kseely
Victor Jr
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2019 7:25 am

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by kseely »

Thanks for the information and quick replies. I am looking to sell this – any advice for price range in current condition?

User avatar
gramophone-georg
Victor VI
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm
Personal Text: Northwest Of Normal
Location: Eugene/ Springfield Oregon USA

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by gramophone-georg »

kseely wrote:Thanks for the information and quick replies. I am looking to sell this – any advice for price range in current condition?
Where are you/ it? PM me with details, please. The two things that bother me about your machine are the incorrect arm and the ripped pressed trim sleeve. Do you have the missing piece, by chance?
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek

I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar

estott
Victor Monarch
Posts: 4172
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:23 pm
Personal Text: I have good days...this might not be one of them
Location: Albany NY

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by estott »

I think someone broke the original arm and replaced it with a standard Grafonola arm. Aside from the soundbox orientation it should work fine

User avatar
gramophone-georg
Victor VI
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm
Personal Text: Northwest Of Normal
Location: Eugene/ Springfield Oregon USA

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by gramophone-georg »

estott wrote:I think someone broke the original arm and replaced it with a standard Grafonola arm. Aside from the soundbox orientation it should work fine
Looks like the soundbox is possibly a No. 9 from a later portable. Looks like the arm may not allow the needle to line up with the spindle, either, but that might simply be picture angle.
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek

I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar

VanEpsFan1914
Victor VI
Posts: 3165
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:39 am
Personal Text: I've got both kinds of music--classical & rag-time.
Location: South Carolina

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by VanEpsFan1914 »

As tough as it is to find Europas, wouldn't it be a good buy anyway if the price is right?

User avatar
gramophone-georg
Victor VI
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:55 pm
Personal Text: Northwest Of Normal
Location: Eugene/ Springfield Oregon USA

Re: Is this a Columbia Europa – please help identify

Post by gramophone-georg »

VanEpsFan1914 wrote:As tough as it is to find Europas, wouldn't it be a good buy anyway if the price is right?
Sure! It could be a really long wait to find the right parts, though.
"He who dies with the most shellac wins"- some nutty record geek

I got PTSD from Peter F's avatar

Post Reply