My latest find.
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2019 1:30 pm
Most UK collectors are familiar with the Columbia No.113a, that large portable with the padded crocodile cloth case and lacquered brass fittings, but it's predecessor the No.113 is little known.
Based on the American Columbia 160, the 113 was introduced in late 1927 and cost ten guineas. That is £10.50 to the decimal generation. It has a British made Garrard No.11a double spring motor and an 11 inch turntable. The early No.15 soundbox has a mica diaphragm and bears a British Patent number. It's most unusual feature is the record storage pocket, lined in polished mahogany, which opens from the outside of the lid and has room for both ten and twelve inch records. At 12.5kg it is twice the weight of the contemporary HMV101.
Soon replaced by the even heavier 113a, the Columbia 113 is rare. When one appeared at a specialist sale in the 1990's it was the only example the auctioneer had ever seen. It was purchased by the late Roger Thorne, and when his collection was sold in 2011 it was still the only known example. It is now in the collection of another CLPGS member.
Some years later a second 113 appeared at auction. This may or may not be the one owned by the late Graham Barber, and pictured on his website http://www.graham-ophones.co.uk.
I knew of no more 113's until a third one was offered on eBay in July 2019. Collection only from Birmingham would have put many potential bidders off, but down in Somerset I had a plan. My daughter-in-law's mother lived minutes away from the seller and was happy to collect the 113 if I was successful. To my surprise I was the only bidder, and I won the machine for the starting price of £25. On her latest visit to her mother, my daughter-in-law picked it up and delivered it to me on her way home to Cornwall.
The 113 is in untouched original condition, with a few blemishes consistent with age and use. All I have done is clean and lubricate it. Among the following pictures it is shown next to my 113a for comparison, and next to a Columbia record carrying case which matches it perfectly.
I still cannot understand how no-one else spotted it.
Based on the American Columbia 160, the 113 was introduced in late 1927 and cost ten guineas. That is £10.50 to the decimal generation. It has a British made Garrard No.11a double spring motor and an 11 inch turntable. The early No.15 soundbox has a mica diaphragm and bears a British Patent number. It's most unusual feature is the record storage pocket, lined in polished mahogany, which opens from the outside of the lid and has room for both ten and twelve inch records. At 12.5kg it is twice the weight of the contemporary HMV101.
Soon replaced by the even heavier 113a, the Columbia 113 is rare. When one appeared at a specialist sale in the 1990's it was the only example the auctioneer had ever seen. It was purchased by the late Roger Thorne, and when his collection was sold in 2011 it was still the only known example. It is now in the collection of another CLPGS member.
Some years later a second 113 appeared at auction. This may or may not be the one owned by the late Graham Barber, and pictured on his website http://www.graham-ophones.co.uk.
I knew of no more 113's until a third one was offered on eBay in July 2019. Collection only from Birmingham would have put many potential bidders off, but down in Somerset I had a plan. My daughter-in-law's mother lived minutes away from the seller and was happy to collect the 113 if I was successful. To my surprise I was the only bidder, and I won the machine for the starting price of £25. On her latest visit to her mother, my daughter-in-law picked it up and delivered it to me on her way home to Cornwall.
The 113 is in untouched original condition, with a few blemishes consistent with age and use. All I have done is clean and lubricate it. Among the following pictures it is shown next to my 113a for comparison, and next to a Columbia record carrying case which matches it perfectly.
I still cannot understand how no-one else spotted it.