I once saw a late 1920's Caruso branded soundbox on eBay, but this is the first complete machine I have seen. Is it for sale?
For a fee, Melba allowed her name to be used on everything from food recipes to gramophone needles. I wonder whether the Caruso Estate benefitted from the use of his name on a gramophone?
It takes more than a portable to do full justice to his records, but what an interesting find.
Portables to identify and discuss
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5227
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
- nostalgia
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1408
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:58 am
- Personal Text: Keep winding up
- Location: My gramophone repair room
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
The Caruso portable is for sale, yes.
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5227
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
Thanks to your help with the seller and the shipping , the machine is now on it's way to me from Sweden.nostalgia wrote:The Caruso portable is for sale, yes.
- nostalgia
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1408
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:58 am
- Personal Text: Keep winding up
- Location: My gramophone repair room
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
I am adding another one, that is for sale in my area. The machine, brand and trademark is totally unknown to me. Since it is "Made in England" I am however sure someone on the forum know it. It for sure could be very interesting to know a bit more about this brand, if possible.
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5227
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
Itonia was the brand name of Smith & Co (Gramophones) Ltd of Itonia House, 58 City Road, London EC1.
A wide range of machines was produced, assembled using bought in components and selling at the lower priced end of the market.
Our American friends would classify Itonia as an "off brand".
In 1931 HMV sued Itonia for infringement of copyright by using the term "Consolette", but the case was dismissed and HMV's registration of "Consolette" was declared invalid as it was held to be in general use in the gramophone trade.
A wide range of machines was produced, assembled using bought in components and selling at the lower priced end of the market.
Our American friends would classify Itonia as an "off brand".
In 1931 HMV sued Itonia for infringement of copyright by using the term "Consolette", but the case was dismissed and HMV's registration of "Consolette" was declared invalid as it was held to be in general use in the gramophone trade.
- nostalgia
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1408
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:58 am
- Personal Text: Keep winding up
- Location: My gramophone repair room
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
Thank you, Roger, great information.
I was actually not even sure about the brand name from viewing the logo, so I could not use "our friend" google to look it up.
I was actually not even sure about the brand name from viewing the logo, so I could not use "our friend" google to look it up.
- nostalgia
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1408
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:58 am
- Personal Text: Keep winding up
- Location: My gramophone repair room
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
What are there to say about this interesting Odeon portable? I have for sure not see it before in my area, but I understand it must have been made after Columbia bought the Lindstrom companies, but there are some obvious HMV traits here too...
-
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5227
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
It is an Odeon badged version of the Columbia 204/HMV97, among the first fruits of the EMI merger.
- nostalgia
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1408
- Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2019 1:58 am
- Personal Text: Keep winding up
- Location: My gramophone repair room
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
Thank you, Roger. I should have recognized it, I have a blue version of the same machine in my rented storage locker, that I purchased last summer. The lid transfer was however not visible on my blue machine, so this is the first time I see this transfer. I guess this machine was made exclusively for the continental European market, since it was badged this way....
-
- Victor II
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:50 pm
Re: Portables to identify and discuss
I have here a portable that I always thought of as a Paillard. That name is on the motor and under/on the turn table. I believe one other place. Sound box says Swiss made and looks like a Paillard sound box I have except no name on the sound box. Nice space for both ten and twelve inch records. Do you think Paillard made this for another company?