Syrena Gramophone

[Jaso]

After several years failed attempts to purchase this magnificent and rare machine, I finally managed to buy it! It is a 1912-15 Syrena made by brothers Wolf & Mordkhe Isserlin in Vilnius. Very similar to Lux No.6 and Triumph models, but pilars, decorations and carvings are different. It has survived in great unmolested condition and has not been exposed to damp conditions during its long life. The motor is a robust yet compact unidentified European three spring model, tonearm according to the brochure ”American construction”(german copy) and the soundbox is a Lindström Reform.
Cheers
Jaso

[Inigo]

congratulations! very nice impressive machine

[Jaso]

Thanks! The original cyrillic dealer tag reads:
Gramophones
Musical Instruments
Yakova Petrovica Rozmyslova
St. Petersburg, Spassky Pereulok 8
Note the golden coat of arms of the Purveyors to the Russian Imperial Court

[Roaring20s]

What a find. Befitting a palace.

James.

[Steve]

What a magnificent machine! Many congratulations on your persistence and eventual payoff. It was certainly worth it! It reminds me why I happily ventured away from just collecting HMV and Columbia machines many years ago. There were so many interesting makers from all parts of the globe who produced amazing machines like this and you so rarely see them.

[chunnybh]

Here is a Syrena Grand Record.
Also an ad from this wonderful Ukrainian site.
https://grammophon.biz.ua

[gramophone-georg]

Just incredible- love it! Thanks for showing it.

[Oedipus]

I think that motor is an Odeon. Whether it was an original Odeon design, or a Lindstroem, bearing in mind that Lindstroem took over Oden in 1911, I don't know, but I have seen several motors like that (double rather than triple spring but otherwise the same, with no identification), and a later version, single spring, of circa 1920, which had the Odeon trade mark in the casting.

It looks in the photo as if two of the spring drums have come adrift - they should be hooked together.

[Jaso]

That is interesting Oedipus, could you post a picture of your Odeon attributed motor? Yes, the drums are not hooked together at the moment. Will fix the motor when restoring the machine. The only other time I have seen the same large horn pattern without paint was this Odeon (loaned picture). So maybe Isserlin’s had some connection getting parts from them too. They also had ties with D.G.A.G. that time.

[CarlosV]

That is interesting Oedipus, could you post a picture of your Odeon attributed motor?

This the motor of one of my machines, an Odeon from 1909. As you see, the Odeon logo is on the body of the motor.