The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am wondering how many of our forum members own a Magnola Talking Machine?
Also, do any of our forum members know if Magnola was in business into the Orthophonic era? I am looking for any information I can obtain on this "off-brand" company.

I had a big fancy Magnola a while back. Had a drawer that slid on metal guides and the records were supported in an expandable fabric sling. I can't post photos of it from my phone, but will try to post some tomorrow. I found mine in an antiques shop in Lowell, Indiana, not far from Chicago.

I doubt Magnola survived the advent of electrical recording. I believe that Magnola was more about an impressive cabinet than impressive sound.

The only information I have on Magnola is that its first advertisement in The Talking Machine World appeared in May 1916.

George P.

I purchased mine in an antique show back in 1987 in Valparaiso, Indiana and thats not far from Lowell, IN and Chicago. Seems that they must have sold some down here in NW Indiana unless they were brought to NW Indiana with people from Chicago.

phonogfp wrote:The only information I have on Magnola is that its first advertisement in The Talking Machine World appeared in May 1916.

There are a couple of old Magnola ads from the Talking Machine World on this web site. Scroll down to the Ms to find them.

http://mulhollandpress.com/phonographbrands.htm

I googled Magnola and saw this Magnola on ebay. This is a beautiful model with all those intricate carvings, they must have made some nice machines.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAGNOLA-Talking ... 3f2f9bf397

I would definitely buy this if it was local and if the price was alot lower.

They were still around in 1922, as indicated in this short mention in "Music Trades, Vol. 64" -- http://books.google.com/books?id=7JZQAA ... ne&f=false
There's also a snip-it from "The Talking Machine World Trade Directory..." from 1923 -- "1923 - ‎Snippet view
MAGNOLA TALKING MACHINE CO. Executive offices located at 711 Milwaukee avenue, Chicago, Ill.; telephone, Monroe 4371. Established and incorporated 1915, state of Illinois. Officers: Otto Schulz, president; E. W. Wolff, vice-president, ..."

Joe

Wow, by 1923 most of the independents were out of business, they must of stayed in business a little longer than most.

$1,795.00 HOLY SMOKES

Victrolacollector wrote:Wow, by 1923 most of the independents were out of business, they must of stayed in business a little longer than most.

There's quite a bit more online about the parent company, M Schulz Co, which was headquartered at the same address as the talking machine operation. Ads for both appear on this page --

http://books.google.com/books?id=XGkoAA ... 22&f=false

Apparently, the building on 711 N. Milwaukee Avenue still stands -- http://www.chicagonow.com/look-back-chi ... schulz-co/

Joe