Phrynis horn gramophone - which model and year?

[gramophone78]

I generally agree with Roger (epigramophone) that it is a worthy addition to any collector's library and, if I'm honest, I probably refer to it more than any other book on the subject but then I am interested in Pathé and other European makes. So far there hasn't been another book on European makers even though we probably could do with one.

One cautionary note however: Roger has already said that the pictures are not always the best but my main criticism would be the lack of accuracy and general information within the text. The photographs of machines do also highlight some strange combinations of mismatched parts! This is no doubt due to the knowledge base not being quite what it is today when this book was produced. A G & T mahogany "New Melba" with an oak spear point horn is just one example.

Steve and Roger are quite correct. Many descriptions are inaccurate. However, I believe the problem was this.....The book was first published for the French market. Because of English market demand, Marty hired a outside source to translate the "later" English version of the book.

Unfortunately,many errors were made in translation. By the time these were noticed.....the book was already at print.

I have personally seen this happen with many books through translation.

As mentioned, it is still a great coffee table book with wonderful photo's of many great UK & Euro machine's. Also, interesting (yet brief) history's of many European manufacturers.
Every collector should have a copy in my opinion as it still makes for great reference.

[FloridaClay]

Thanks for the comments on the book (and apologies for temporarily hijacking this thread on a side issue). I now plan to buy a copy as my little library is definitely deficient with respect to information about European machines.

Clay

[Steve]

Thanks for the comments on the book (and apologies for temporarily hijacking this thread on a side issue). I now plan to buy a copy as my little library is definitely deficient with respect to information about European machines.

Clay

Good call, Clay! Considering that some European collectors bring machines in under cover of darkness, are generally very quiet and "private" and seem reluctant to disclose or share information about specific brands or participate in "foreign" fora for fear (excuse the alliteration!) of compromising their stealthy positions, the Marty book is probably the best we're ever going to get on the subject of continental machines!

[phonodesbois]

I don't think that all the "errors" we found in the Marty book are translation issues as they exist also in the original french version. Nevertheless, documentation on Europeans phonographs and gramophones is so scarce that this book remains a must for collectors.

Back to Steve question on the Phrynis model, I'm still looking but, in the mean time, found out on the Internet a copy of a 1922 Phrynis catalog. This machine could be a model 5 but the pics are not perfect. The catalog can be found at : https://plus.google.com/photos/10521891 ... banner=pwa .

At last, I do agree that finding reliable info on Europeans machines is just a nightmare for both French and foreign collectors...
Whenever possible, I will try to share what I have.

[Steve]

Back to Steve question on the Phrynis model, I'm still looking but, in the mean time, found out on the Internet a copy of a 1922 Phrynis catalog. This machine could be a model 5 but the pics are not perfect. The catalog can be found at : https://plus.google.com/photos/10521891 ... banner=pwa .

Thank you for the link. However I believe that this catalogue is far too late to show my machine. The "Model 4" and "5" both share identical cabinets in that particular range but if you notice the back-brackets and tone-arms / soundboxes are a later design, not to mention the omission of the asymmetrical horn by this date.

I have seen a reference to my machine being a "7" somewhere but I'm at a loss to remember where exactly!

Thank you for your effort in trying to help me acquire more information - it is sincerely appreciated.

[chunnybh]

Thank you Jeff, the link also has some wonderful catalogues. The Pathé one in particular has some very useful references to Ferera Et Franchini (I'm a fan) records that I have never heard of. Thanks
Steve, WOW! your collection must be one of the best anywhere. I just got back from a beach holiday in Thailand....no gramophones this time but it reminded me of the Bangkok gramophone museum which is mainly based on European and Asian Pathé machines.