Columbia Graphophone Group

[ChuckA]

I have been building a collection of Columbia Graphophones for the past few years, besides finding all the different models I'm also acquiring the different styles within the model range. I have just finished (maybe) a couple of new groups of same models but with different styles.

The first is the Model AT, which has three styles:



On the left is the first style AT, it used the small #2 Eagle aluminum reproducer in the almost vertical position. One big problem with all the AT models is the use of pot metal for the chassis and carriage assemblies. This one is an early production and has no pot metal parts. In the center is the second style AT, this style used the same fancy cabinet as the first version. The reproducer is a #5 D-1 which is relocated on to a high arm assembly and positioned in a horizontal plane to gain some additional force to try and extract more sound from the reproducer. On the right is the third and last style AT. The only change from the previous style is the larger and plainer style case.

The second group is the Model BV family, also three styles:



In the middle is the BV, one of the smallest cased machines from Columbia. The BV reproducer is built into the carriage frame and unique to this model. On the left is the model BVT, this has a tonearm attachment that is bolted to the rear of the cabinet as in all the other tonearm models. This style is rarely found with a banner decal as seen on all the other Columbia machines. On the right is the Oxford Talking Machine sold through Sears & Roebucks. This model has a removable back bracket that is secured by a clamp & screw at the rear of the bed plate, interestingly this model is usually found with the Columbia banner decal.

1908 Sears Catalog page:



Hope you enjoy the photos.

Chuck

[flashpanblue]

Hi Chuck,
What a great lineup! Columbia Graphophones are very pleasing to the eye with their nickel bed plates and flowered decoration.
Pete

[phonogfp]

Nice groupings! Of course, my praise doesn't carry much weight regarding Graphophones because I'm admittedly biased.

It's good to see how far we've come from the old days of "I like Edisons and Victors, but not that Columbia stuff..."

George P.

[welshfield]

Thank you Chuck...I saved that little dissertation in my "Columbia" folder.
How about a similar review of the BK and BQ for those of us with these machines ? (If you please, if course)
John

[ChuckA]

Nice groupings! Of course, my praise doesn't carry much weight regarding Graphophones because I'm admittedly biased.

It's good to see how far we've come from the old days of "I like Edisons and Victors, but not that Columbia stuff..."

George P.

George,

I guess we should hurry and find all those Graphophones that we want before everyone figures out what we already know.....

I'm going to start on the Model Q's next.

Chuck

[fran604g]

Nice groupings! Of course, my praise doesn't carry much weight regarding Graphophones because I'm admittedly biased.

It's good to see how far we've come from the old days of "I like Edisons and Victors, but not that Columbia stuff..."

George P.

George,

I guess we should hurry and find all those Graphophones that we want before everyone figures out what we already know.....

I'm going to start on the Model Q's next.

Chuck

Save a few for me!

Fran

[oltractor]

Nice!

[EarlH]

Nice groupings! Of course, my praise doesn't carry much weight regarding Graphophones because I'm admittedly biased.

It's good to see how far we've come from the old days of "I like Edisons and Victors, but not that Columbia stuff..."

George P.

Back when I was a kid in the early 70's I told an old collector about a Columbia cylinder machine I had seen and he said "I wouldn't make room for one of those out in my driveway!" That really was the attitude in those days. I had run across a NOS nickel horn for a Columbia cylinder machine and in those days had no idea what it went to. I'd never seen a horn with a threaded end. But it was new in the packing material yet and was really very nice looking. Tom Fretty bought it from my Dad one day before I got home from school so I have no idea where went. It wasn't for another 20 years before I figured out what it was for so I really didn't get too upset over it. He just passed away a few weeks ago if you are old enough to remember him.
Nice bunch of machines Chuck. I never owned a Columbia machine, mainly because of Bud's comment all those years ago. But they sure made some nice looking phonographs.

[ChuckA]

Nice groupings! Of course, my praise doesn't carry much weight regarding Graphophones because I'm admittedly biased.

It's good to see how far we've come from the old days of "I like Edisons and Victors, but not that Columbia stuff..."

George P.

Back when I was a kid in the early 70's I told an old collector about a Columbia cylinder machine I had seen and he said "I wouldn't make room for one of those out in my driveway!" That really was the attitude in those days. I had run across a NOS nickel horn for a Columbia cylinder machine and in those days had no idea what it went to. I'd never seen a horn with a threaded end. But it was new in the packing material yet and was really very nice looking. Tom Fretty bought it from my Dad one day before I got home from school so I have no idea where went. It wasn't for another 20 years before I figured out what it was for so I really didn't get too upset over it. He just passed away a few weeks ago if you are old enough to remember him.
Nice bunch of machines Chuck. I never owned a Columbia machine, mainly because of Bud's comment all those years ago. But they sure made some nice looking phonographs.

Thanks Earl.

In my early collecting days (40+ years ago) I was the same, had almost no interest in Columbia machines. It was probably 10-15 years later that I started to look at them differently and began searching them out. I think my turning point was finding a like new BGT with wood horn on matching cabinet at a local auction, I just had to have it. But someone else had much deeper pockets than me that day.

Chuck

[briankeith]

How about the Columbia little cylinder machines such as the AP, AQ, Q, etc. What category would these fall into?