Auction: Emile Berliner - 'Kammer & Rienhardt' - 1889-1893

[gramophone78]

I assume that nothing about this gramophone from the "Grammophon-Fabrik Kämmer, Reinhardt & Co. in Waltershausen" is original. Only the enclosed record, a somewhat later pressing from 1891-1895, is authentic.

Yes, I tend to agree with you. The record is the best bit of the lot , although I suppose the gramophone would make a reasonably nice display piece , with a little bit of modification here and there , although not at its estimated price level !. Dulcetto

Sold for GBP 2,700 hammer , plus 30 percent buyer's premium. ( against the pre-sale estimate of 5000 -- 10,000 ) It was viewed pre-sale by an experienced pair of eyes who was firmly of the opinion that most of it was reproduction , including the baseboard , but the horn did appear to be a genuine old one. Many of the other lots in the sale also sold for far less than the ridiculously high pre-sale estimates. Personally , I think the auctioneers Sworders did themselves no favours in allowing someone with limited knowledge to compile the sale catalogue and come up with the pre-sale estimates. Shot themselves ( and the vendor ) in the foot really , but then I shouldn't complain , as some buyers scooped up stuff at very low prices , me being one of them ! ha ha ! Dulcetto

Wow!! Mine , all original, sold for around that price......in 1981 at Christies London. I do not believe the horn (or anything) to be original on the recently sold machine.