Columbia Folding Tonearm??

[Uncle Vanya]

Oh, for crying out loud! Are "New Columbia" machines from 1923, 1924 and 1925 so little regarded that no one has noticed this arm?

This tone arm design was introduced on the New Columbia" machines in 1923. These machines take many cues from Victor design; cross tension springs and knife edge pivots on the stylus bar, a frontvring for the reproducer which is attached with four screws, a (partial) spiral drive motor, and this type of tone arm which echoes the goose neck of the Victor.

The Harmony machines in question were built in 1927 and 1928 using left over parts. Many Harmony machines have the New Columbia reproducer, others use the No. 6. Many have the jointed tone arm, others use the older arm left over from the 'teens. Some few use the improved Columbia motor, which was shared with the Viva-Tonal models, but most Harmony machines use bought-in motors.

[VanEpsFan1914]

They must be pretty rare. I've at least never gotten to see one.

How do they sound? Columbia did a lot of work improving acoustic recording tech.

[Benjamin_L]

Oh, for crying out loud! Are "New Columbia" machines from 1923, 1924 and 1925 so little regarded that no one has noticed this arm?

This tone arm design was introduced on the New Columbia" machines in 1923. These machines take many cues from Victor design; cross tension springs and knife edge pivots on the stylus bar, a frontvring for the reproducer which is attached with four screws, a (partial) spiral drive motor, and this type of tone arm which echoes the goose neck of the Victor.

The Harmony machines in question were built in 1927 and 1928 using left over parts. Many Harmony machines have the New Columbia reproducer, others use the No. 6. Many have the jointed tone arm, others use the older arm left over from the 'teens. Some few use the improved Columbia motor, which was shared with the Viva-Tonal models, but most Harmony machines use bought-in motors.

I didn't know that, Vanya.

I'll admit of the few times I've seen this tonearm it's been on Harmony machines, but then again I rarely see "New Columbia's".

I tried looking one up but this was the only one I saw with the earlier Columbia tonearm.(https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -481565732)