Table Top Verses Panatrope Portable.

[De Soto Frank]

For what this is worth, I have two table-top Columbias: a circa 1912 Favorite (with Victrola-style double-doors ), and a circa 1914 Jewel.


Both are in playing condition, and sound decent for what they are ( $50 and $35 machines, respectively, with fairly small horns. ).


Neither one quite competes in terms of volume and frequency response with my Victrola VV 2-55 Orthophonic portable, or strictly in terms of volume, with any of my Victrolas - L-door, IX, XI, XIV.

I am fond of Columbia machines, but in my experience, anything before their Viva-Tonal do not quite match the performance / build quality of Victor or Edison products.


If I were looking for a good-playing machine over something to fill a gap in my collection, I would probably choose the portable Panatrope over the table-top Columbia.