Recovering a long lost record player

[Grimwicked]

Stolen record player/gramophone

Hello everyone! Some time ago (I’d say about two or three years) my parents had their storage unit broken into by some random druggie. Guy was stealing stuff from units to sell for quick cash and unfortunately our family’s most prized possession was taken and unrecovered. It was a VERY old and VERY creepy gramophone/ record player that I have not been able to find ANYWHERE, I cannot even find the brand of this device through many many google searches. I’ve reversed searched both the player and the logo and have come up with nothing. This is the only image I have of this device so I apologize for the quality

So I figured I’d ask if ANYONE has an idea of what brand/time period it would’ve been from or if I have any hope of finding it. It would’ve initially been in TX but since it’s such a unique antique I fear it could’ve been sold off anywhere or worse yet, dumped and lost forever. So hopefully being able to identify it I can either find the lost one or a possible replica

[epigramophone]

The record storage clip and the sound reflectors either side of the horn mouth are similar to those of the c.1929 UK Columbia 112a.
There the resemblance ends, but Columbia manufactured a confusingly large number of "Overseas" models, particularly in their Japanese factory, about which little is known.
I don't know your location (is TX Texas?) but my conclusion is that your long lost machine was not of American origin. Many British, European and possibly Japanese portables were brought into the USA by servicemen returning after WW2.

[drh]

[edit] I wrote the text below before others came in with the correct answer. Pay it no mind!


Let me say up front, this is very likely a red herring. Still, for whatever it's worth: I zoomed in on the logo in the photo, and the brand name appears to start with "Har[possibly m]" and end with "a." Considering that everybody and his brother Jimmy Bob made phonographs with the "-ola" suffix, I tried "Harmonola," and up came this in a Google search: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... phonograph

If you look at the logo on that catalogue cover, it resembles the one on the phonograph in general outline, although the match isn't perfect. I'd say the period of the catalogue is earlier than that of the machine as well. But maybe the name persisted, even under new ownership, and the logo morphed over time, so maybe this is an avenue to explore.

[CarlosV]

I don't know your location (is TX Texas?) but my conclusion is that your long lost machine was not of American origin.

You are correct, Roger, the photo shows a Napoleon machine, which is a Columbia-owned label made in Japan. I have a Napoleon table top, similar to an English Columbia but with noticeable differences, like tonearm, needle cups etc. It escapes me the reason for naming a gramophone Napoleon to sell it in Japan, maybe the guy was popular over there.

[Curt A]

Over many years of collecting needle tins, I have run across a number of varied Japanese "Napoleon" tins, but have never seen a machine to go with them. Here are some examples - there are many more::

Screenshot 2024-02-28 at 4.24.36 PM.png (211.35 KiB) Viewed 409 times

Screenshot 2024-02-28 at 4.31.55 PM.png (334.73 KiB) Viewed 409 times

Screenshot 2024-02-28 at 4.33.25 PM.png (540.49 KiB) Viewed 409 times

[OrthoFan]

Doing an image search for the Japanese Translation of "Napoleon" -- ナポレオン -- I found a similar Napoleon Gramophone listed on a Japanese Auction site, showing a clear image of the logo:

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/au ... 1113437563

[phonograph guy3435]

id say you found it! congrats!