Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

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schweg
Victor III
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Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:41 pm
Location: okc ok

Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by schweg »

I took a day off work, and rather than do any of the chores I have piled up, I decided to do this instead. OK, it's still early and I promise to get the other stuff done later.....

This is obviously a refugee that found it's way onto a shipping container from the UK. This was found by someone at a flea mkt near Dallas who then offered it on Craigslist. That's where I came in. I saw one 5 yrs ago at a local auction and although it went cheap, I didn't buy it. It was nicer than this one, with a mirror on it, so when I saw this one, I thought I could minimize my buyers remorse at not having gotten the last one.


Make: The Star
Model:
Serial # none- it has a patent no. 305352 on the tone arm support
Year(s) Made:
Original Cost:
Reproducer/Sound-Box: "Duretta" Gramophone soundbox
Motor: Double spring.
Reproduction Parts: none
Current Value: "All you can pay"- after all it is a BUFFET
Favorite Characteristics: Both manual and automatic brake- and of course the unique cabinet.
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HisMastersVoice
Auxetophone
Posts: 2587
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:01 am

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by HisMastersVoice »

I think this is awesome. It's so cleverly disguised! One could almost sneak yet another machine into the house without getting in trouble. "No really...it's just a simple sideboard. No phonograph here! Move along, nothing to see..." :lol:

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OrthoSean
Victor V
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Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:33 pm
Location: Near NY's Capital

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by OrthoSean »

Love it!

Plus, there's a nice little place on the top left for a nice little Victor I or II, maybe an R? ;)

Sean

schweg
Victor III
Posts: 805
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:41 pm
Location: okc ok

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by schweg »

you are scaring me Sean- but I'm actually using both sides, and the Victor II is on the right.
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OrthoSean
Victor V
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Location: Near NY's Capital

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by OrthoSean »

Nah, I think most of us see a nice flat surface and think "OK, I can put a little horn machine here and it won't look bad at all, not at all"... :lol:

Sean

HisMastersVoice
Auxetophone
Posts: 2587
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:01 am

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by HisMastersVoice »

OrthoSean wrote:Nah, I think most of us see a nice flat surface and think "OK, I can put a little horn machine here and it won't look bad at all, not at all"... :lol:

Sean
And those drawers would be great for cylinders :D

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phonogfp
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 7384
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
Location: New York's Finger Lakes

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by phonogfp »

But how about that tone arm??? :shock:

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: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by estott »

That was a pretty popular style of arm in the UK. It was most prominently used on Gilbert machines but was sold separately and used by other makes. The main point is that the twists in the arm make the tapered tone passage longer, similar to a long horn.

EDIT: On checking things out this is NOT the same as the Gilbert arm, but they both follow a common principle.
Last edited by estott on Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Phonofreak
Victor VI
Posts: 3718
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:00 pm
Location: Western, WA State

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by Phonofreak »

What a wonderful machine. Truly a "Star".
Harvey Kravitz

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antique1973
Victor IV
Posts: 1281
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:30 am
Personal Text: Victor Z, Victrola 4-3

Re: Featured phonograph No. 86- The Star

Post by antique1973 »

Neat machine, thanks for sharing!

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