Portables to identify and discuss

[nostalgia]

I am revealing it, photo attached. ( National Band)
I did not know much about this brand, but was able to find some information here on the forum after a search.
I could not find a stitched leather portable of this brand listed anywhere, so I thought it could be of interest to share the photos.
The horn is small, but apart from it, it is sturdy and well made with quality components.

[nostalgia]

What do you make out of this? I was under the impression of that Goldring never made their own gramophones/phonographs, at least I remember having read that on the forum. Do you think this is a real UK made Goldring, or "something else"? At least the turntable looks very Garrard like to me...I add it out of curiosity, since it is for sale in my area, and also for reference.

[epigramophone]

Here is the link to the Goldring website which includes a brief history of the Company. There is no mention of complete gramophones ever being made, and no UK manufacturer would use the word "phonograph" on their products.

https://www.goldring.co.uk/heritage

[nostalgia]

Thank you, Roger. I was also wondering about the "phonograph", it did not seem to match well with the UK based Goldring company.
Here is another Goldring, found online, with another logo, whatever its origin....

[gramophoneshane]

When I was in highschool, a mate of mine told me his mum had a portable which I bought, and it was a Goldring.
It had a logo the same as the machine directly above, and also had the same tonearm and speed control.
And it did have a Garrard motor.
If I remember correctly she said she bought it in 1948 or 49, so the plastic Goldring script shown above was being used then, but who knows for how long before and after 48/49 it was used.
I resold the machine a couple years later to help finance a new purchase, but have often wished I'd kept it.

The black case had a heavily grained Rexine that was in perfect condition, it sounded pretty good, and the front and back were curved from the top to bottom instead of being flat, so it looked quite smart with an almost deco appearance.
I quite like the portable posted directly about as well.

I'm not sure what to think of the green Goldring.
I don't recall ever seeing Goldring in a circle in that style on anything before, and I don't know of anywhere other than America who would use the word "phonograph" for a gramophone.
I'd love to see what motor was used in it.
It does look similar to Garrard parts, but I'm not convinced it is. I don't think I've ever seen that style wooden knob on a Garrard crank before.

I'd love to know if the green machine is perhaps an early Goldring made for export, or was made elsewhere but licenced to use the Goldring name, or was it from some short lived foreign company who just happened to use the same name?

[nostalgia]

I think I have been able to solve the green Goldring machine mystery. After deep diving on the internet, I was able to find these photos of more Goldring portables with the same logo, and it is a Japan made machine. I was also able to find a youtube video showing one of these portables. What to make of the machine on the below uploaded photos I leave to you long time experts to decide. I have myself never seen anything similar, and what is that "VCR front" really doing apart from blocking the horn?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8TXNcxzbC4

[gramophoneshane]

Great detective work there, finding it's a Japanese Goldring.
Seems the Japanese weren't opposed to using English or American company names for their own native companies.
I remember some time ago seeing firbre needle scissor type cutters in their original cardboard box under the Edison brand, along with made in Japan.

That last one with the "VCR" front as you put it, is quite a novel idea.
Holding a storage box for the tonearm, soundbox and needle tins, once removed the empty space becomes the horn mouth.
Quite a clever way to make the portable more compact.