Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

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Oedipus
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Oedipus »

What I meant by 'some 9000s' in the blocks quoted was that others were in different blocks, as I went on to show. All machines with numbers in those blocks were Columbia 9000s. It would be possible, though laborious because of the way the blocks are laid out, to add up all the numbers in all the blocks for every year of production. That would give the total of serial numbers allocated. But as I said, the numbers appear to have been allocated in advance, so there is no guarantee that all the numbers were used up.

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nostalgia
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by nostalgia »

Thank you, Oedipus for adding this information. It would be extremely interesting to calculate these numbers, even if the work is laborous, and I for sure would love to do it myself, if I ever had access to the raw data. I understand the numbers were allocated in advance, so there is no guarantee all the numbers were used up, but it still would give an idea about the possible numbers of Model 9000 manufactured.
I calculated this morning the numbers you gave for B14 (1950), adding up the different blocks, and counting the first two blocks as black machines (including the block named as Model 9001) and got these numbers: Black: 3300 Red: 650 Green 3250 Blue: 650 Total: 7850

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Steve
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Steve »

Does B/10 mean 1946?

Has anyone got a 9000 with HMV 101 type corners to the outside and brown plush Garrard turntable fitted inside and winged sides to horn but normal 102 type winding handle storage?

I've got an opportunity to buy a black one like this but not sure how genuine it is.

Phono48
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Phono48 »

I've got a green and a blue 9000, they have matching turntables, but the black one would have had brown, presumably. They have the wings at the side of the horn, and the chrome 102 style corners, the only difference is in the placing of the handle socket and clip. The triangular socket is in it's usual place, but moved slightly to the right, in order to clear a space for the left hand wing when the lid is closed. The clip is moved to a position above the socket, and is screwed to the side of the lid. When you mention the "normal 102 position" for the handle socket and clip, that would be impossible, as putting the socket tight into the corner would prevent the lid closing, unless both socket and clip were moved slightly to the right. Yes, B10 does mean 1946.
Barry

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Steve
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Steve »

Hi Barry,
Thanks for your response.
The 9000 I'm looking at has 101 style corners, not 102 type.

Also the handle is stored in the same way as a normal 102 although the case also has the wings to the horn. Presumably the clips must be offset very slightly as you say to allow for this. The turntable is brown. My blue 9000A has blue plush mat but otherwise is very similar to a late 102. The handle is stored vertically in the lid.

I'm still not sure the 9000 I'm looking at is 100% correct. Thanks for confirming the year.

Regards,

Steve

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Steve
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Steve »

The serial number is 28535 and I've just received a better photo. The handle is very similarly mounted in the lid to a 102 but it sits a bit more centrally. The triangular piece appears to be about 1" from the internal corner of the lid. With black items in poorly lit photos it's often hard to tell!

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nostalgia
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by nostalgia »

Can you upload a photo, so we can see?

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Steve
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Steve »

Bear with me. Its coming in a few minutes.....hopefully!

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Steve
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by Steve »

Here you go.
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nostalgia
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Re: Columbia portables..the endless enigma?

Post by nostalgia »

I have a black 9000, but unfortunetaly the photos I took of it are blurry, and I did never upload photos of this machine to the forum when I bought it in May this year. Unfortunately it is also in my storage locker, so I can't check it more now. I still upload a few of the blurry photos.
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