Brunswick Radiola model BR-260

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Does anyone have any information regarding this machine? We recently purchased it in very good condition, but needs more needles?

[brianu]

well, they all need needles.

what sort of information are you looking for?

posting a few photos might be good as well.

[MordEth]

well, they all need needles.

Like Brian says, if you are using a steel needle on shellac (it will destroy vinyl), you should change the needle after every side, otherwise you will wear your records excessively.

— MordEth

[phonophan79]

The BR-260 should have an Ultona reproducer that can be adjusted to/from two different positions to play 78 RPM records and Edison Diamond Discs. Some models have a third option to play Pathé records as well. Not all records are the same and playing a record with the wrong needle will damage the record and/or needle.

I used to have this machine, it sounded great.

BR-260 phonograph playing Victrola 78 RPM record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4Ppx26_QNU

BR-260 phonograph playing Diamond Disc record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1S1ET0yufM

[gramophoneshane]

Would this then be one of the first electric Brunswick models of 1925/26, seeing as they incorperate the Ultona reproducer?
I think (?) their Orthophonic style soundbox & tonearm came out in 1927, so I'd imagine these would have replaced the Ultona almost immediately?

[OrthoFan]

Would this then be one of the first electric Brunswick models of 1925/26, seeing as they incorporate the Ultona reproducer?
I think (?) their Orthophonic style sound box & tonearm came out in 1927, so I'd imagine these would have replaced the Ultona almost immediately?

The Ultona reproducer, patented in 1917 (http://www.gracyk.com/brunswick.shtml) was introduced with the first Brunswick models. Here's an early brochure -- http://www.nipperhead.com/old/brult.htm

Brunswick unveiled the Panatrope (all electric, vacuum tube amplified model) in late 1925, followed by the Exponential Horn Panatrope (all acoustic version) in 1926.

I've been told, and have seen references, that the BR-260 predates the introduction of electrical recording/playback by about a year-- or circa 1924--though I've yet to find an exact production date.

[OrthoFan]

I just did a Google news archive search, for -- Brunswick "Radiola No. 260" -- and spotted three references dated between Dec 16, 1924 and Jun 7, 1925. Unfortunately, all three are currently "pay per view" type ads, and I'm too cheap to fork over the three bucks to read them.

The latter reference from the Los Angeles Times, provided a few excepts in its description: "NO EXPOSED HORN Brunswick All in One Beautiful Cabinet Radiola No. 260. Price $510 .."

So it seems that this was a very expensive, top of the line item, and was for sale just at the very end of the acoustic phonograph era.

According to the Wikipedia article on Brunswick records -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_Records -- Brunswick introduced its first electrically recorded discs, which used the short lived "Light Ray" process, in the Spring of 1925, or at the same time that Victor and Columbia introduced theirs. (Of course, they initially kept all of this a secret from the public--at least in the US market.) As with Victor and Columbia, Brunswick would not unveil its all electric Panatrope until the fall of that year.

[OrthoSean]

I have a beautiful BR-260. It's a stunning machine to look at and the sound is pretty darned good, too.

Most of these turn up with radios missing or the legs cut off. I was lucky to get mine with everything except the radio driver, which a nice person gave me later on to complete my machine.

All I have here are the original ebay pics from when I bought the machine, they'll give you at least an idea of what a stunner they are, though.

Sean

[phonophan79]

Most of these turn up with radios missing or the legs cut off. I was lucky to get mine with everything except the radio driver, which a nice person gave me later on to complete my machine.

I am still jealous of your BR-260! Mine was plain, yours had fancy door pulls and nice wood coloring... and didn't have the radio pulled out!

You ever get that radio up and running?

[OrthoSean]

Nah, not yet. Haven't got the cash right now to spare on having that job done. Won't be cheap, but eventually I'll get it done.

Sean