Climax Machines And Records

[De Soto Frank]

Interesting...

The photo I shared was from an ebay listing from July 2015... was located in Lyndon Station, Wisc.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Very-Rare-Vinta ... 1759205314

[Henry]

Here's a Climax (-type steam locomotive, that is). Gosh, I didn't know they played records, too! Wonders never cease....

[De Soto Frank]

You beat me to it, Henry... the pride of Corry, PA.


There's one restored and running down in West Virginia, I believe they call it the Durbin Rocket...

(I need to get down there and see it before it "runs out of time"...)


I think out in Harvey's part of the world, they probably saw more Shays and Heisslers...

[Henry]

Off topic alert---proceed at your own risk!

Hey Frank, NKP 765 is coming to the LV this weekend. Excursion up the gorge and back. See http://fortwaynerailroad.org/ and https://www.showclix.com/event/LehighGorgeSpecial.

[jboger]

So back to the Climax, er . . . phonograph (nice picture of the train). What sort of motor was used in these machines? Was it the same as the Standard Model A or Imperial? If so, a broken-down machine could be a source of parts.

[Phonofreak]

Frank, That's the Climax phonograph that I just got.
Harvey Kravitz

Interesting...

The photo I shared was from an ebay listing from July 2015... was located in Lyndon Station, Wisc.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Very-Rare-Vinta ... 1759205314

[Phonofreak]

I am also a model railroader. I have models of Shays, Heislers and Climax. Back in the 70's and 80's brass engines used to be cheap. Now a brass engine can go for more than an open horn phonograph.The last logging engine was a vertical boiler Climax. That was about 10 years ago. I still dabble with my trains. Sorry about being off-topic.
Harvey Kravitz

[jboger]

No need to apologize. Digression is the art of conversation. The B&O museum in Baltimore has some beautiful trains, including Tom Thumb, I think.

Harvey, have you looked at the motor on your Climax. How does it compare with the single-barrel motors in the Columbian derivates? You note that the cases are better constructed. Are the motors of better quality, for example no fiber gear?

[De Soto Frank]

Harvey,

I did some looking in my 1996 edition of Columbia Phonograph Companion, Vol II, and your machine seems to share some features with both the Bijou (BZ) external horn machine ($17.50), and the Lyric ($25 ).


The Bijou is described as being made from boxwood, finished in a mahogany color, case measuring 5-⅞" h x 11-⅞ w & d, but only had a single-spring motor & 2-ball governor. The machine pictured appears to have a # 5 reproducer, and also features the "scallops" on the corners of the cabinet box.


The Lyric is an internal=horn machine, with upper and lower moulding profiles like your Climax, but w/o the corner scallops, and being made from "clear-grained oak" ( assuming veneer ?). This cabinet measured 7" h x 13-½" w & d. It is listed as having a two-spring motor, and pictured with the brass tone-arm with the "knuckle" elbow (soldered-on) near the reproducer, and this particular example is fitted with a "Concert Grand" reproducer. ( The tone-arm and back-bracket seem to match your Climax )
The machine in the illustration does not seem to have the large, circular motor-plate.

[Kent in KC]

Been following this thread due to my interest in the Climax machines (and any other "oddball" brand). Here's a shot of my outside horn Climax - never seen another. Used to have an inside horn Climax but sold it several years ago.