What's the story, unmarked Columbia Q ?

[Phonolair]

So I have this machine what looks to be a later Columbia Q. Other than the patent dates on the end there are no other markings that I'm use to seeing. No Columbia decal on the bedplate, no TYPE Q stamped on the end above the patent dates, no tag on the end of the mandrel or no serial number anywhere.

Was this sold by another company, maybe mail order like Sears or Montgomery Wards.

Something new I don't remember seeing before.

Anybody know the scoop.

Best Regards, Larry

[clevelander]

Larry,
I have the same machine.
The mandrel should have the Columbia disc, no markings on base.
The serial No should be stamped on the top of the left-hand plate above the key.
Regards,
Alistair.

[fran604g]

Larry,

My "QA" #821031 has the "Graphophone" decal on the base plate, but it doesn't have "tufts" at the corners.

Both of my "plain" uncased Qs (#848847 & #933155) have both the decal and the tufts.

Why is a mystery to me.

My QA #821031:

My plain Q #848847:

Best,
Fran

[fran604g]

Larry,
I have the same machine.
The mandrel should have the Columbia disc, no markings on base.
The serial No should be stamped on the top of the left-hand plate above the key.
Regards,
Alistair.

Larry, As Alistair points out (I've taken the liberty to highlight the area on your Q in red):

Best,
Fran

[Phonolair]

Thanks for the info Alistair and Fran. I guess my eye sight or attention span isn't what it once was. The serial number is right where you both mentioned, # 1062711.

So I guess it's just a matter of a lost mandrel tag and everything else is normal, thanks again.

Best Regards, Larry

[fran604g]

Larry, just for the record, it's my understanding that not all of these actually had the mandrel plate, either.

Best,
Fran

[phonogfp]

Larry, just for the record, it's my understanding that not all of these actually had the mandrel plate, either.

Best,
Fran

That's true with Eagles (below approx. No.145,000), but to the best of my knowledge, all Qs were originally equipped with a mandrel tag.

George P.

[fran604g]

Thanks George, for the correction.

Fran

[Fonotone]

So I have this machine what looks to be a later Columbia Q. Other than the patent dates on the end there are no other markings that I'm use to seeing. No Columbia decal on the bedplate, no TYPE Q stamped on the end above the patent dates, no tag on the end of the mandrel or no serial number anywhere.

Was this sold by another company, maybe mail order like Sears or Montgomery Wards.

Something new I don't remember seeing before.

Anybody know the scoop.

Best Regards, Larry

P1100943.jpg

P1100944.jpg

This looks like a Columbia "LanguagePhone" (a re-branded Q). Originally, it would have come with a lid that indicated as much. Except for the lack of a lid, everything appears to be consistent with the LanguagePhones I've seen.

[Phonolair]

Larry, just for the record, it's my understanding that not all of these actually had the mandrel plate, either.

Best,
Fran

That's true with Eagles (below approx. No.145,000), but to the best of my knowledge, all Qs were originally equipped with a mandrel tag.

George P.

Thanks for the updated info George.

So I have this machine what looks to be a later Columbia Q. Other than the patent dates on the end there are no other markings that I'm use to seeing. No Columbia decal on the bedplate, no TYPE Q stamped on the end above the patent dates, no tag on the end of the mandrel or no serial number anywhere.

Was this sold by another company, maybe mail order like Sears or Montgomery Wards.

Something new I don't remember seeing before.

Anybody know the scoop.

Best Regards, Larry

P1100943.jpg

P1100944.jpg

This looks like a Columbia "LanguagePhone" (a re-branded Q). Originally, it would have come with a lid that indicated as much. Except for the lack of a lid, everything appears to be consistent with the LanguagePhones I've seen.

Very interesting Fonotone, might this be the reason the end is not stamp Type Q. If that's the case than there would have been no mandrel tag. All I have is the machine pictured, no lid to help with the ID. A quick search of the internet did produce another machine like mine, not stamp Type Q on the end and it had the Language Phone lid. The machine did look the same as the one I have pictured.
So maybe there's more than meets the eye here.

Best Regards, Larry