Fanola Portable Gramophone

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
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Enrico
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Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by Enrico »

Just wanted to share with you this funny portable machine that I just found in my collection.
Best,
Enrico
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HMVDevotee
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by HMVDevotee »

Enrico,

Seldom do we find something unique! Fascinated by this odd design, I just did a quick internet search of "Fanola" and found no references or images! Any indication of country origin?

Robert

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Enrico
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by Enrico »

HMVDevotee wrote: Fri Feb 05, 2021 9:58 am Enrico,

Seldom do we find something unique! Fascinated by this odd design, I just did a quick internet search of "Fanola" and found no references or images! Any indication of country origin?

Robert
Hi Robert,

I haven't found anything either! And at the moment I have no indication of the country of origin. I'll do some research and more photos of the machine anyway.

Thanks,
Enrico

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alang
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by alang »

That's a very interesting design. How does it sound?

BTW: I envy you for the fact that you can "just find machines in your collection". I understand that you inherited your collection, but that feeling of being able to discover something new in it must be amazing. If I discover something in my collection it's usually because age made me forget about it :lol:

Thanks for sharing.
Andreas

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Curt A
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by Curt A »

I searched everywhere, but couldn't find any company information except their original theme song...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puxwF779v9o
"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

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Steve
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by Steve »

I love it.

What does it say on the support arm? I've tried zooming in but my eyes aren't that good anymore, sadly! :D

Thanks for sharing it with us.

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Inigo
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by Inigo »

What I've read in the logo under Fanola is Ferguson Patent.
The arm seems to say NOT... something
Inigo

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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by CarlosV »

Very interesting machine indeed! The fan resembles the Lumière diaphragm, with the needle connection directly to the center of the fan, differing in that the Lumière utilizes a wooden rod as link between the paper center and the needle. The name on the label suggests an English machine, quite unique! an inspection of the motor may provide further clues about its origin.

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Curt A
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by Curt A »

I would love to find one of these, since it is an unusual design... Probably not much chance of finding one since it seems to be very obscure.

The fan is interesting, since it is not an acoustic "horn", more like a diaphragm similar to a Polly portable...

The brake looks similar to something I have seen on other portables. It might be a clue to the country of manufacture.
"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

VanEpsFan1914
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Re: Fanola Portable Gramophone

Post by VanEpsFan1914 »

The sticker in the lid appears to say "Ferguson's Patent" underneath. Was there a Ferguson who invented gramophone parts?

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