The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

If I were allowed a favoutite, Then this is probably it. (for some unknown reason!)

Microperophone built the first MP3 player in the mid nineteen twenties so it is entirely possible that Nipper's machine was an MP3 player.

Hello Daithi-thank you very much for sending the picture of the Micro-Perophine MP1 down to show us. I am Micro-Perophone "Chromogram " fan, and with my friend "epigramophone", are probably the only two people in Britain that specialise in that make. We also have quite a bit of information on the models, etc.
The model shown is not known to me, so is of interest. I have never seen the advertisement before-must be one of the "Gramophone" magazines that I have not seen, or own, over the years!
Thanks again for sharing it with us-Great!-and if you have any other bits of information about this make or the company that made them, we would like to know.
The ultimate models of the Micro-Perophone "Chromogram" series were models 27 and 28, about the size of a 193. Never seen one, probably never will, but it is my aim to continue to search for either of those.

old country chemist wrote:Hello Daithi-thank you very much for sending the picture of the Micro-Perophine MP1 down to show us.

The picture in the advert is actually of the MP3 which was more decorated than the MP1. The MP1 was plainer and without the carvings. Here is a picture of the MP3 player in person, so to speak.

A very nice looking machine with interesting innovative sound openings in the lid. Here is a couple of pictures of my Model 23 in mahogany, which was in a nasty accident in the back of a "Parcelforce" van-a firm I would never use again for that purpose This model has the "Crescent" tone arm and weight adjuster.

old country chemist wrote:A very nice looking machine with interesting innovative sound openings in the lid.

This model has the "Crescent" tone arm and weight adjuster.

chromogram model 23 mahogany.JPG

The MP3 player also has a very unusual horn onder the motorboard.

Your model appears to have a serious motor as well as the counterweight and tonearm.

Hello again Daithi, Your Micro-Perophone has the unusual openings in the lid to allow extra sound to be transmitted. This is an unusual idea indeed! Yours has the earlier tone arm, the same as the model 20 which was the smallest model in the 1928 catalogue, which "epigramophone" has placed pictures of on the forum some time ago.
The design of these machines was thought up by Captain Barnett.M.I.M.E. who was a prolific gramophone inventer in the 1920s and before. He designed the "Beltona Peridulce gramophone, with it's large "Pianini" type soundbox. This machine had some unusual features too! The models that followed yours were called as you probably know, the Micro-Perophone "CHROMOGRAM" series of machines, using unusual patents, registered by Cpt.Barnett and Mr Cullum, who was the managing director of the Perophone firm.
It is a pity that so many gramophone folk know next to nothing about these innovative machines. A good one will give excellent results on all types of gramophone records. Sadly the firm seems to have disapeared from the market place around the end of 1932, soon after it produced an interesting radiogram.
Is there a chance Daithi, that you can send down some more pictures of your MP3 to view on the forum. I for one would be most grateful. Thanks!

Here is the link to the 1930/31 Chromogram catalogue which I posted some time ago. Alastair and I both rate the Chromogram as one of the best cabinet machines most people have never heard of. This has worked in our favour as prices are lower than the well known brands, and now there are probably more Chromograms in our little corner of Somerset than anywhere else in the world.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=11912&p=67370&hili ... ram#p67370

There's one for sale very cheap in the Netherlands...
https://www.boodstyling.nl/product/plat ... hromogram/

old country chemist wrote: Is there a chance Daithi, that you can send down some more pictures of your MP3 to view on the forum. I for one would be most grateful. Thanks!

Here are some pictures of the MP3 player with emphasis on the unusual horn arrangement and design. Is it possible that Columbia copied this design for their plano reflex tonearm?