Portables to identify and discuss

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
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epigramophone
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by epigramophone »

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.

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nostalgia
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by nostalgia »

The Caruso portable is for sale, yes.

epigramophone
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by epigramophone »

nostalgia wrote:The Caruso portable is for sale, yes.
Thanks to your help with the seller and the shipping , the machine is now on it's way to me from Sweden.

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nostalgia
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by nostalgia »

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.
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epigramophone
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by epigramophone »

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.
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nostalgia
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by nostalgia »

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.

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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by nostalgia »

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...
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epigramophone
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by epigramophone »

It is an Odeon badged version of the Columbia 204/HMV97, among the first fruits of the EMI merger.

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nostalgia
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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by nostalgia »

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....

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Re: Portables to identify and discuss

Post by vansteem78 »

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?
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