British Columbia?

[vansteem78]

When I bought this machine I was told it was English if true does anyone have other information about it? Was it made in the late 1920's? Or the 1930's? If you know anything please let me know.

[Bruce]

Hello

Robert W. Baumbach's "Columbia Phonograph Companion Volume II" lists two possible machines like yours

1. Grafonola C - first offered in 1918, measuring 12 ⅝ H, 16 ¾ W, 16 ¾ D

2. Grafolola D - first offered in 1918, measuring 13 ⅝ H, 18 ½ W, 21 ½ D

Sold in the USA and Canadian markets. I can not make out the tag under the decal (under the lid) it appears to be a dealer tag. What does this tag state?

Bruce

[vansteem78]

1918 is to early to be anything like this machine. This machine if you look at the horn and soundbox was made during the electric era so late 20's or early 30's. and that book is American machines I believe. Thanks for posting.The tag underneath says "Patents applied for".

[alang]

I would guess mid 1920s. It still has many of the older Grafonola features. If it was late 1920s in the U.K. I would expect it to have the Plano-reflect tonearm.

Andreas

[vansteem78]

Thanks, and I was told British also because of the speed control, horn and that tone arm are not American. It does have to be during the electric era and the sound makes that clear. Gee even the acoustically recorded records have great volume on this machine.

[Phono48]

Unfortunately, the soundbox is wrong. This is the No.15, which was introduced in 1928. This machine should have the No.8.

[Damfino59]

This is one of early British Viva-Tonals with the bifurcated horn. Like HMV Columbia still used their Grafanolo style cabinets but replaced the horns & tonearms. The Plano-flex arm came out 1928-29. I think your sound box is from the Plano-flex period. Columbia sound boxes are inter-changeable. The motor in this Columbia most likely was made by Garrard.
I have the later Plano-flex version of this gramophone. It plays well as your unit probably does. I like it over my HMV 109.

Glenn

[vansteem78]

Glenn so early it does not say Vivatonal but it sounds ever so great like a Vivatonal that I have. I have not looked inside but the seller who had put in a new spring said the motor said Columbia on it which I would think is unusual.

[CharliePhono]

My 117a has the Plano-Reflex tonearm and the No. 9 soundbox. The bottom of the cabinet is dated 1929. The motor, while branded as Columbia, is a Garrard. I understand this was common practice with some UK Columbia machines of the period. Yours has the same bifurcated horn as mine, and with a properly rebuilt soundbox and good sealing all around, the sound is most impressive.

[epigramophone]

Your machine is British made and dates from 1926. As others have pointed out, the original soundbox would have been a No.8, but a previous owner has updated the machine with a No.15. This was commonly done to improve the performance of an older machine and is a perfectly legitimate modification.

Here are some images from the 1926 UK Columbia catalogue :