Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite

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sabstage
Victor Jr
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Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite

Post by sabstage »

We recently acquired a working Columbia Grafonola Favorite with two doors. On the motor, there is a marking "173". Based on preliminary research, since it is the two door model, it would have been built between 1911(?) and 1915(?). We didn't know if the 173 marking could help date it better. Anyone have an idea? Thank you!
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Herderz
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Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite

Post by Herderz »

Mine is a little later year. they had to go with louvers for patent reasons. it is about 1916 I think. yours would be earlier in production.
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sabstage
Victor Jr
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Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite

Post by sabstage »

Thank you!

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Orchorsol
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Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite

Post by Orchorsol »

Here in the UK I have a Columbia Savoy which looks just like your Favorite, with the doors rather than louvres - I don't know, but I suspect Savoy may be the name given to the US Favorite in the UK - I can't remember exactly what my sources of information were, but I believe the ones with doors were made from 1911 until sometime in 1912 when (as mentioned above) they changed to louvres, as the doors infringed the Victor patent.

I meant to photograph mine in daylight today but didn't get round to it - but here are a couple of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9gZP7PGdrA&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Z6deGA78g
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com

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sabstage
Victor Jr
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Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite

Post by sabstage »

Orchorsol wrote: Sun Nov 21, 2021 1:17 pm Here in the UK I have a Columbia Savoy which looks just like your Favorite, with the doors rather than louvres - I don't know, but I suspect Savoy may be the name given to the US Favorite in the UK - I can't remember exactly what my sources of information were, but I believe the ones with doors were made from 1911 until sometime in 1912 when (as mentioned above) they changed to louvres, as the doors infringed the Victor patent.

I meant to photograph mine in daylight today but didn't get round to it - but here are a couple of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9gZP7PGdrA&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Z6deGA78g
Thank you for the information.

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