The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This elaborate and well made cabinet houses fairly basic mechanical components, but the horn construction is interesting.
It could be the work of a gifted amateur or a commission for a furniture retailer.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-ANTI ... %7Ciid%3A1

It's a very well made cabinet with dovetailed construction and it looks nice... a good machine for the right price.

Brand new construction, right?

It's a nice looking machine and located not far from me.

I'm always suspicious, though, when a vendor says they don't know if it is working or not as that usually means it isn't. If it were working the vendor would surely say so and to say that he hasn't had time to get it going seems a bit lame. There's a record already on the turntable, there's a box needles next to it, how long does it take to wind it up and lower the soundbox on the record?

There are already a couple of bids so someone's willing to take a punt on it.

Tim W-W

Skihawx wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 9:39 pm Brand new construction, right?

Although the condition looks good, perhaps like new in the pictures, I think that’s unlikely. It really wouldn’t be worth the time and effort to make something like this for the money it is worth and quarter sawn oak can now be expensive here in Britain. Unless done for a hobby I think a cabinet maker would want four figures.

The seller doesn’t show us the top and that might show its age.

jamiegramo wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:13 am

Skihawx wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 9:39 pm Brand new construction, right?

The seller doesn’t show us the top and that might show its age.

The surface of the top is the most ignored photo ever, and a particular frustration of mine! It's the most abused surface and can be the ruin of an otherwise very nice cabinet. Wouldn't you like to strangle the guy who invented the flower pot?

JerryVan wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 12:52 pm

jamiegramo wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 9:13 am

Skihawx wrote: ↑Thu Apr 08, 2021 9:39 pm Brand new construction, right?

The seller doesn’t show us the top and that might show its age.

The surface of the top is the most ignored photo ever, and a particular frustration of mine! It's the most abused surface and can be the ruin of an otherwise very nice cabinet. Wouldn't you like to strangle the guy who invented the flower pot?

Ha ha! The flower pot, bottle of wine, vase, hot cup of coffee, the leaking cough medicine, that box with the metal feet...

Certainly made by a very experienced woodworker.

The picture of the dove tails inside look too clean and new.
The inside would have not likely been finished and should have oxidized.
I think it is a recent creation.

I can see the odd scratch and recessed dirt but the machine does pose a few questions. What is the purpose of the part (as shown by Curt) with the finger joints?, Does it conceal part of the horn (if so, why is it off-center) or is it a separate box or tray? Why does the shelf above the horn have a second shelf sitting on it? Does this slide out when the doors are fully pushed back? If so, why does the wood appear different (mahogany?)? Why does the tonearm seem to be fixed with Phillips head screws? Perhaps it is an unstable burr-wood veneer otherwise why does the interior of the horn appear cracked and somewhat decayed compared to the rest of the machine?

The replacement No.4 soundbox is too big for the space as it scratches the inside of the lid when closed.

Of course, these points are fairly irrelevant and solvable if it goes cheap and you live locally.