World War 1 Decca 'Trench' Portable Does it actually exist ?

[poodling around]

Another supposedly 1914 one here !


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-DECCA-PO ... 0168.m2941

Actually made in 1923 ! the seller posted the label for me !

Brilliant ! It is VERY good to know what a later one looks like thanks to your efforts. Thanks Soundgen !

[poodling around]

Oh, I think I have finally found one !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Decca-Portab ... Sw2nNgDUa1

That certainly appears to be an early one to me.
Something I notice that I hadn't noticed before is the Decca name is embossed on the tonearm rather than in the bowl where it's normally seen.
I guess that's one more thing that must indicate an early example.

I'd be interested to know what brand motor was in this one.
I seem to recall seeing or reading somewhere that the earliest trench models used a motor by Thorens rather than Paillard, which might explain the round speed control and brake.

Absolutely fantastic ! I now have the definitive answer to my question and know exactly what to look for.

I have a checklist !!!!!!!

Thanks very much gramophoneshane !

[soundgen]

Over the last 40 years i have owned / sold 100s of Decca " Trench " gramophones , the earliest I have ever found was dated 1919 , never had one from 1914 to 1918 they must be like Hen's teeth !

If they have copper 'lid reflectors', two chains, a round speed control, the handle is attached to the lid and different closing 'catches' then I see what you mean. At least I am far more knowledgeable now and know what to look for.

Oh, I think I have finally found one !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Decca-Portab ... Sw2nNgDUa1

I have doubts that this is 1914 , it doesn't have a label but at the base of the tone arm has patent dates , not readily visible but I have asked the Vendor for a better picture

This is a 1916 Decca https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/the-g ... diered-on/ NO PATENT DATES ON TONE ARM

[poodling around]

Over the last 40 years i have owned / sold 100s of Decca " Trench " gramophones , the earliest I have ever found was dated 1919 , never had one from 1914 to 1918 they must be like Hen's teeth !

If they have copper 'lid reflectors', two chains, a round speed control, the handle is attached to the lid and different closing 'catches' then I see what you mean. At least I am far more knowledgeable now and know what to look for.

Oh, I think I have finally found one !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Decca-Portab ... Sw2nNgDUa1

I have doubts that this is 1914 , it doesn't have a label but at the base of the tone arm has patent dates , not readily visible but I have asked the Vendor for a better picture

This is a 1916 Decca https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/the-g ... diered-on/ NO PATENT DATES ON TONE ARM

Very interesting - I hope you get a reply - it would be absolutely great to have a definitive date for the machine !

[soundgen]

Here's another WW1 Decca with provenance and looks like the original soundbox unlike the Ebay one

https://iwmvolunteerlondon.wordpress.co ... ramophone/

[Dangermouse]

Here's another WW1 Decca with provenance and looks like the original soundbox unlike the Ebay one

https://iwmvolunteerlondon.wordpress.co ... ramophone/

yep the Dullcephone company made Decca portables.

[soundgen]

So is the Ebay gramophone a Decca WW1 model , i think yes although no date label it appears to be an intermediary between the Science Museum machine and the machine in the shell case , it has the same tone arm locking mechanism as the the SCM which is different in the Shell case and has the same stamped details as the Shell case which are not on the SCM Ipso facto it was made between the two machines which have provenance BUT it does have the wrong soundbox !

[poodling around]

So is the Ebay gramophone a Decca WW1 model , i think yes although no date label it appears to be an intermediary between the Science Museum machine and the machine in the shell case , it has the same tone arm locking mechanism as the the SCM which is different in the Shell case and has the same stamped details as the Shell case which are not on the SCM Ipso facto it was made between the two machines which have provenance BUT it does have the wrong soundbox !

Fantastic !

Thanks again soundgen for all your effort and stating things so simply that even I can understand !

The end !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oedipus]

As Epigramophones pointed out, the CLPGS Reference Series booklet No 35 tells you the history of the Decca portable, and points out the features of the early models. In particular, the carrying handle was at the back (on 1914-15 models), the tone-arm has a right angle at the front (very bad tracking, which was obviously realised early on), and the name Decca Dulcephone was in the top left hand corner or the lid, though it has often worn away. Also, there was a black model, which had a black enamel bowl, and a maroon one with an aluminium bowl -- only the brown models had the copper-plated bowl.