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Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:46 pm
by nostalgia
Can someone tell me which colors the range of UK made Columbia portables were made? I know this may be a very difficult question to answer, but any input would be of great interest. At the time of writing this, I am particuarly interested in knowing what colors the model 100 were made, but really, if someone can pin down the different colors for the other portables, it would be just as interesting.
Trying to search past threads, I have found that Model 100 was made in black, red, and brown... so far.

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 5:09 am
by epigramophone
My 1929 catalogue is reproduced in the following thread, but even that does not tell the full story. For example the 112a is shown as available in black, plus blue, brown and red crocodile cloth, but I also have a green one. Was it a limited edition or a prototype? We may never know.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=43053&p=253233&hil ... ue#p253233

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 5:34 am
by nostalgia
Yes, Roger, your uploaded catalog gives excellent information about the different portables, thank you. I could however not find the model 100 in that catalog, it was maybe not for sale after 1929? It is maybe still reasonable to assume that model 100 was made in the same colors as the later Columbia portables, but please correct me if you feel this is wrong thinking.
With your added green 112A, that is not listed in the catalog, there is obviously still room for surprises also with the listed colors in the catalog. I guess there is also minimal chance to ever find out how many units were made of each color.

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:47 am
by epigramophone
The Columbia 100 had a short production run, which may explain why catalogue images of it are hard to find. I believe that blue was an option but I have never seen one.

The last pre-EMI models 201 and 202 have been seen in black, blue and red. Here is my red 201 :

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:06 am
by Phono48
There are two versions of the 100. Some of them are covered in leathercloth, and some have the same "crackle" finish as the interiors on all models. I have seen the 100 in blue (leathercloth), red (crackle finish), green (crackle finish), and black (leathercloth) One thing I have rarely seen, though is a 100 that doesn't have a "sloppy" arm that nearly drags on the record!

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:48 am
by nostalgia
Thanks for sharing photos Roger, it is always of great interest. And thank you Barry for sharing the information on the different versions on the model 100, that they were avaliable both in leathercloth covering and "crackle" finish, is quite astonishing to me. And yes, I remember reading here on the forum about the tonearm problems. Still, if I ever find a unique model 100, I would still go for it, and very probably find myself in the same situation as earlier described on the forum when trying to repair the tonearm. :roll:
And, to add one more photo of colored Columbia portables, here is my red Columbia 205, my only colored Columbia portable so far.

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 8:41 am
by Gramtastic
There's a brown 202 on Ebay now - only £80 !!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Rare ... SwsB9eQpr6

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:54 am
by Orchorsol
Gramtastic wrote:There's a brown 202 on Ebay now - only £80 !!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Rare ... SwsB9eQpr6
Incorrect soundbox (looks like a Songster or other generic replacement) but a great deal nevertheless. I like the sound of Columbia 202s as much as HMV 102s, though they have different 'characters'.

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:46 pm
by epigramophone
The machine is little more than an hour from me, and the soundbox is easily replaced as I have spares, but the problem is the missing record album which fits inside the lid.
In the unusual colour of brown this would be extremely difficult to replace, so I will not be adding this machine to my portable collection.

Re: Columbia portables, color range question

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2020 12:58 pm
by NEKTREG
Maybe the Columbia 100 (also called in England "Cadet" and in Germany "Weekend") is not in the catalog in this forum, because it was never sold in the USA? My Adverts in german never mention the colors, but I found a austrian one which mentions blue, black, grey and red. They all painted, never with leather on it - but maybe there were also some in leather - I never saw one with my eyes.

The 100´s I had (and still have one) were a black and a blue one but which interior was some sort of orange/brown. The sound is absolutely incredible for such a tiny machine and horn. Definetly the best sounding portable for his size, which was ever made. Not much bigger than some Cameraphones/ultra portable (I dont know how you name them in the USA) but it sound much much better.
Greetings