Columbia Grafonola "Favorite" Questions

[XCaptBill]

I picked up a mahogany table top Columbia Grafonola "Favorite" this weekend. It plays well and is in good mechanical order. I will probably restore the cabinet since it has some water staining on the lid and a small chip in the veneer. The lid bracket is missing and I would like to replace it. To make sure I get the right one, I expect I should know the year it was made? I don't see any identifying plates or serial number to help date it? The photo's I see of Favorites on the internet, after doing a little searching around, seem to have a plate that is part of a motorboard mounted plate beneath the platter. Mine does no have this tab or plate. The photo's also show needle cups. Mine does not have these either and the speaker has doors rather than louvers. If someone has an idea of the date of this machine or where I can find more information about it, your input would be appreciated.

Once dated, I will need a source for the bracket. Can anyone recommend a resource for this part.

Thanks

Bill

[Jerry B.]

The Favorite was introduced in 1911 for $50. The earliest examples had doors over the horn probably in violation of Victor's patents. Later examples had louvers over the horn. It was later renamed the Model 50 which featured four sunken needle cups and louvers over the horn. All information thanks the Bob Baumbach's wonderful book "Columbia Phonograph Companion Volume II.

Jerry Blais

[XCaptBill]

Jerry, do you know how long they made this version 1911 to ?

[Jerry B.]

I don't consider myself an authority on Grafonolas but maybe someone like Harvey could chime in on that question. The Favorite was a big seller for Columbia and you do see a fair number with doors but I think they switched to louvers fairly early in production.

I suspect George Vollema would have the lid support you need.

Jerry Blais

[alang]

As far as I know Columbia had to switch to the louvers very quickly, because Victor had the patents for the sound doors. I think the louvers were introduced in 1912, which would put your machine into this 2 year, maybe 3 year timeframe. Definitely the earliest model Favorite. I like these Columbia machines, only problem spot is the pot metal tonearm / elbow. If those are ok you should have a great little machine.
Andreas

[XCaptBill]

I'm pretty sure that none of the tone arm pieces are pot metal on this machine? I could be wrong though. I have a Starr machine with a pot metal elbow that broke so I checked before buying it. The Starr machine has a pot metal motor housing as well and it has a piece broken out of it too. I don't want another machine with pot metal pieces. I knew the Starr was in poor condition and I bought it cheap with the intent to disect it and see how it worked.

I'm pretty happy with this purchase as I bought it right. I had planned to restore a VV 50 that I bought last fall, but my wife want's me to restore the cabinet on this one next. I just finished restoring a Delco radio and I'm ready to start the next project. I have also started making a replica Unico stand for the VV 50 and all the pieces are cut, waiting for finish and assembly. I guess I can move it down in the cue

Is there a source for the Columbia decals? If not, I guess I could restore the finish on everyting except the underside of the lid where the decal is.

[alang]

I guess you're lucky that you don't have the pot metal parts on this machine. Regarding the decals, I would always try to save the original decal if possible. If not, Greg Cline makes excellent replacement decals. Here is a link to his site: http://phonodecal.com/decals/scripts/main1.php#null
He already has lots of Columbia decals listed, but I think he can also make different ones if supplied with a high res photo.
Good luck
Andreas

[XCaptBill]

Thanks for the link to the decals. I'll have to decide which way to go. If I can cleanly restore up to an edge and save the underside with the decal, I will.

[Jerry B.]

I agree with Andreas, Gregg Cline is the guy for decals. I have worked around decals and the end result, at best, is only fair. If you work around the decal, you have to work the stripper right up to the decal and then work away from it. It takes a lot of time for mediocre results. Also, you always see some of the old finish in some places of the decal. Jerry Blais

[XCaptBill]

The old decal does have a section that is damaged. Perhaps it would be better to apply a new one. I didn't see one for the Favorite so I may need to send a photo if I go that route.