Mega rarity - Primaphone in travelling case on UK Ebay

[Steve]

I'm seriously surprised no one has yet posted a link to this, what has to be one of the rarest machines and most interesting gramophones to have appeared on Ebay since it began? I have a complete colonial version in teak with leather carrying case and recording horn but I have seen a reference to two other surviving machines in the UK and I saw one other incomplete example about 12 years ago. I've never seen another one for sale in 32 years!

https://tinyurl.com/399y6n3y

It's a great shame the motor (unique to these machines) spring barrel and gears are missing. Also, the end of the stylus bar and pivot suspension assembly appears to be missing. The rest of the machine is a remarkable survival though and is complete with the original oak travelling case. It could be restored to working order but at what cost?

And yes, that's definitely a pre-lifebelt "lifebelt" arrangement you're seeing there! Funny how these things come about really.

[CarlosV]

It's a great shame the motor (unique to these machines) spring barrel and gears are missing. Also, the end of the stylus bar and pivot suspension assembly appears to be missing. The rest of the machine is a remarkable survival though and is complete with the original oak travelling case. It could be restored to working order but at what cost?

The machine is very interesting, Steve, and definitively rare, but the missing spring and gears are a blocking point to me - a replacement motor will probably never be found, and making new parts would be prohibitively expensive!

[epigramophone]

The machine has generated a great deal of interest, albeit not on this forum.
With over four days to go it has already been bid up to GBP£670, and will no doubt rise further. As the sale proceeds will be going to the British Heart Foundation, which helped my father live to the age of 95, the higher the price the better.

[Steve]

The machine has generated a great deal of interest, albeit not on this forum.
With over four days to go it has already been bid up to GBP£670, and will no doubt rise further. As the sale proceeds will be going to the British Heart Foundation, which helped my father live to the age of 95, the higher the price the better.

Aha, so where has it generated a lot of interest, if not here? I have to confess that I'm currently the underbidder but as I don't think it's worth much more to me in its current incomplete state I'm not planning to go much higher. I could very well reconsider over the weekend though! I also have good personal reasons to support the BHF in the process.

BTW, this design, shared with the FTA gramophone, has to be one of the very few all original British designs in the world of gramophones.

[Steve]

So much for the discussion elsewhere. Where elsewhere I'm curious to learn? Anyway it didnt advance further (as i thought it wouldn't) and ended with me as the underbidder!