Magnola Phonograph

[Talkophone]

Bought this today but will be a few weeks before I can pick it up. John is this model in your booklet of Magnola Phonographs? It might be a later one than yours. It does have the record holders.

Larry

[JohnM]

Pretty! Is that walnut? Magnolas are heavy suckers, too! Mine is in a fancier cabinet with tall columns on the front corners. I can't post photos to the board with my iPhone, but I will from my laptop when I get back to the hotel tonight. Congratulations! The Magnola brochure is at my house and I won't be back there until August, but I'll check then. The record storage canvas goes left-to-right on mine, not front-to-back.

Magnola01.jpg (24.04 KiB) Viewed 2270 times

Magnola02.jpg (24.85 KiB) Viewed 2270 times

[scullylathe]

Beautiful machine. This machine has the same tonearm assembly as an oddball upright I have. The only name on my machine is a small brass plate on the rear panel inside the lid; "Bel Canto" and I was once told that it was a Starr-Meteor machine, but I've only seen mine and maybe one or two others in the last 25+ years. Anyone know more about this machine and it's manufacturer? Rarity?

[Talkophone]

Just plain old Oak.

Larry

[JohnM]

I'm not aware of any connection between the Meteor Car Company of Piqua, Ohio and the Starr Piano Company of Richmond, Indiana. All these brands -- including your Bel Canto -- were part of the explosion of manufacturers and brands that came on the scene after Victor's fundamental patents expired between 1916-1917.

Many of these brands use motors and acoustical hardware produced by a small handful of generic parts suppliers. Many are 'rare' in the sense that they had limited distribution, but because they are so generic, there is little to make them valuable.

[JohnM]

Just plain old Oak.

Larry

I can't see detail as well on my iPhone as I can on my laptop -- thanks!

[Talkophone]

John this link is kind of interesting and shows a sketch of your Magnola.

http://books.google.com/books?id=Km4oAA ... ph&f=false

Larry

[antique1973]

Just plain old Oak.

Larry

Larry do you know if that is Flemish Oak or just dark stained? It looks real
nice in any case. Great find!

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

My Cardinal has the same reproducer/tonearm also.

[Talkophone]

I'm sure it is just stained dark. I bought this from a friend who has 2 of them. The one I bought says Bruce & Co. but is an exact match to the other he has and it says Magnola. Maybe Bruce & Co. was a dealer who could just put his name on it instead of Magnola. Yes a very generic phonograph made in Chicago. Chicago seems to have been a city who attracted phonograph Co. Or who made many parts for phonograph company's.

Larry