Picked this one up for $40 today. Its in good shape, just needs new gaskets.
The build quality is quite good, better than I expected.
Got a Cecilian Portable
- antique1973
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:30 am
- Personal Text: Victor Z, Victrola 4-3
-
- Victor I
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:51 pm
- Location: western Missouri
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
Neat! The Cecilian name was first used by the Farrand Organ Co. for their system of Push-up Piano Playing machines [you'd put the piano roll in the machine, and pump the pedals while 65 wooden fingers played your piano. I suspect this is a later product sold by the same company. It's in apparently beautiful shape. Good Work!
- Tinkerbell
- Victor III
- Posts: 778
- Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:01 pm
- Location: Somewhere over Never, Neverland
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
I've seen these a couple of times in nice shape and have been very tempted myself... but I've managed to resist (so far)antique1973 wrote:Picked this one up for $40 today. Its in good shape, just needs new gaskets.
The build quality is quite good, better than I expected.
- antique1973
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:30 am
- Personal Text: Victor Z, Victrola 4-3
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
Thanks for the interesting background info! I read on the net also that this brand was kind of like the "Silvertone of Sears" but for Montgomery Wards instead.hillndalefan wrote:Neat! The Cecilian name was first used by the Farrand Organ Co. for their system of Push-up Piano Playing machines [you'd put the piano roll in the machine, and pump the pedals while 65 wooden fingers played your piano. I suspect this is a later product sold by the same company. It's in apparently beautiful shape. Good Work!
- antique1973
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:30 am
- Personal Text: Victor Z, Victrola 4-3
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
Tinkerbell wrote:I've seen these a couple of times in nice shape and have been very tempted myself... but I've managed to resist (so far)antique1973 wrote:Picked this one up for $40 today. Its in good shape, just needs new gaskets.
The build quality is quite good, better than I expected.
I know what you mean, at first I was going to avoid it! But then I discovered
I really like the "gold" eagle and ornate reproducer, and figured what the heck.
I am going to sell my Odeon portable and my VV-35 is already on the market to make
room. Worst case I should be able to get $50 for the Cecilian if I run across a
minty VV-50 or something similar.
-
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4172
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:23 pm
- Personal Text: I have good days...this might not be one of them
- Location: Albany NY
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
Very nice! The main appeal of 20's portables like this is the appearance and this one scores. Montgomery Ward sold a lot of Cecilian portables but their cabinet models were a poor also-ran to Sears.
-
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3463
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:21 pm
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
Is the motor a Paillard?
- antique1973
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:30 am
- Personal Text: Victor Z, Victrola 4-3
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
estott wrote:Very nice! The main appeal of 20's portables like this is the appearance and this one scores. Montgomery Ward sold a lot of Cecilian portables but their cabinet models were a poor also-ran to Sears.
Thanks Estott, it is in pretty nice shape compared to my beat up Odeon. There is just one small hole on the top and there is some batting coming out. They padded the top apparently.
I never heard of the brand until this one came up on CL but that's not surprising considering
the hundreds of offbranders out there.
- antique1973
- Victor IV
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:30 am
- Personal Text: Victor Z, Victrola 4-3
Re: Got a Cecilian Portable
gramophoneshane wrote:Is the motor a Paillard?
I will see if I can pop up the motor board tomorrow and see what's inside. Its
a good smooth runner but I only tested a couple records so far. I tried to
put new gasket material in the soundbox but the stuff I have is too thin. I am
going to see if George V. can send me the right kind.