"Operaphone" Phonograph...Odd Machine

[brianu]

I concur on the inflated serial number theory. My Biggs 'Castle Grand' is s/n 1900, and I'm fairly certain that it is the first (and perhaps, only) one that was built. It was designed in 1919, and I think they started the numbering with the last two digits of the year. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=2369

I vote to leave it as an 'Operaphone', even if it remains in an uncompleted state. It needs to be preserved as a historical artifact rather than as parts for an Actuelle (which are scarce, but certainly not rare). I've never seen an Operaphone phonograph in any condition in 42 years of collecting. Perhaps another-- or even some paper documentation -- will turn up that will give you guidance on what the finished product looked like. If it doesn't happen in your lifetime, then by all means, please just preserve it for the next generation.

The Operaphone horn is Brunny-like.

I'd definitely agree with that sentiment - not all antique phonographs at this point are really meant for playing, more for just display in some cases... particularly in certain cases where the machines played a significant, if not just interesting or quirky, role in the history of recorded sound. so if you've got the space and the inclination, I'd clean that machine up and get it back together as it was when you found it...

unless of course further research reveals that this was actually just pieced together in a basement somewhere... but that doesn't yet seem to be the case. nevertheless, that's definitely a Pathé Actuelle cabinet (I have the same one in oak), and the motor looks right as well.

[bbphonoguy]

If I may put in my 2 cents, just to repeat what has already been said. This phonograph ought to be preserved just for its rarity. It may not be valuable, but it's definitely not overpriced at one dollar, and I figure the chance of finding another Operaphone is close to zero.

This is just the sort of phonograph I love to find. Some sort of oddball underproduced name that you didn't even suspect existed.

[SonnyPhono]

Great information, I thank you all. I will definitely keep it in the form that I found it. I will clean it up and leave it as an Operaphone. I hope to find some sort of history on it though, and eventually would like to find a proper tonearm and reproducer even though from the sounds of things it is highly unlikely. So maybe, because of the serial number, there are at lest 10 others and maybe more? I have to find more info on it!

First person to guide me to some literature about this, anything at all, I will send a tungs-tone needle tin! Any takers?

[ColoradoPhonograf]

Here is a picture of a motor in the Pathé Actuelle Instruction Book. To me it looks just like the motor you have pictured.

ColoradoPhonograf

[SonnyPhono]

Thanks for posting! I have a Pathé Frères 50 and if I remember correctly, it has the same motor. There has to be something on this phonograph somewhere...

[OrthoFan]

An Operaphone phonograph, which came up for sale on eBay in May of 2008, was discussed on the Phono-L site last year -- http://www.mail-archive.com/phono-l@old ... 06483.html

Too bad it's no longer in their archive. Based on the comments by Robert Plavzic in the final post in the string, it was like the piano shaped Operaphone I spotted here: http://www.bidcal.com/antiqueestate/index.html

[SonnyPhono]

Yea, unfortunately those were the only two references I could find too, and nothing more. Maybe there just wasn't ever any information on it. Could it have been a prototype that never made it into production?

[OrthoFan]

Yea, unfortunately those were the only two references I could find too, and nothing more. ... Maybe there just wasn't ever any information on it. Could it have been a prototype that never made it into production?

I'm not so sure about a prototype, but rather, a very short-lived model, possibly using up cabinet stock from other manufacturers, as has been noted. The reason I say this is, I was able to spot a reference, via a google news search -- CLICK HERE


From (referenced page) the Greensboro Daily News
THURSDAY, DEC. 22, 1921
...last-minute Christmas gift ideas: Velocipes (tricycles) for boys and girls, $2.65 to $10, at Butner Furniture Co.; Patha, Sonora and Operaphone phonographs...

This is probably just a text ad, and most likely provides no detailed information, but it does indicate that Operaphone phonographs were sold to the public. (I'm wondering if anyone has access to a well stocked library newspaper archive?)

Out of curiosity, I also did a google site search to see if there were any other Operaphones for sale on Craigslist. CLICK HERE. I came up with three -- in San Antonio, Rochester and Syracuse -- though they are all expired, unfortunately.

[estott]

Do you still have the Operaphone? Here's an Operaphone tone arm and reproducer on Ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-OPERAPHONE- ... 3ef933420e

[SonnyPhono]

Wow! That's random. Well, it turns out I found a lady who has one and sold it to me for $40. It has the gold tone arm and parts that match what I need, but now I have to decide whether to take the one she sold to me apart or not as it is a lowboy style with cabriolet legs. Thanks for remembering though!