It’s been a while since I’ve posted a machine transparency, so here is a Columbia BI Disc Gramophone, or ‘Sterling’ in the U.S. and ‘Regal’ in Britain and Europe, from Steve’s photograph library:
I’ll attempt to solicit him to reply with more information about this machine; I know next to nothing about Columbia’s products, and as you may guess, the model and naming information are courtesy of Steve.
I'm not sure what I can say about this machine really?
It dates from approx. 1908 (I believe?) and it was the "middle-of-the-range" machine making it one of the most popular models. The Imperial and the Majestic were the better models with the latter having a triple spring motor whilst both models shared the same rounded cornered mahogany case. The BI has a double-spring motor and "Analyzing" reproducer / soundbox. Some of these are fitted with a volume control valve to the rear but not on this particular example. The horn is nickel plated brass and the tone-arm is uniquely aluminium. Columbia were the only makers to produce an all aluminium tone-arm, presumably for lightness?