Another DECCA DECCALIAN apparently ....

[Steve]

No "maybe" about it. Deccalians are very sought after.

The first, possibly unique, example you show sold to me for £680 + Auction fees.
The second, less rare, example sold on eBay for £500 + Shipping costs.
The latest example has several bids with over nine days to go. I am tempted.

I ended up buying the boudoir machine, I found it too good-looking to pass, and moreover the seller was an experienced chap that arranged a quite reasonably priced crating and shipment, a rarity in these post-Brexit days. It arrived in a single piece, in great shape and is very loud! I just needed to replace the tubing of the soundbox.

Roger and Steve, are these three machines contemporaneous? Mechanically they seem almost identical to each other (maybe with different motors), fitted in custom cabinets. Do you know other Deccalian models? It looks an interesting line of little-known collectible machines.

Yes, they are contemporaneous, Carlos. I like your use of that particular word!

By the way, congratulations on the Deccalian. A number of non-collectors who I sometimes show things to, have all agreed that the model you have is the best looking one of the lot.

As for Deccalians in general being "little-known", I'm not sure really. I think British collectors generally sleep on a lot of this "lesser brand" stuff, preferring the safety of machines by the dominant three manufacturers, HMV and Edison especially.

[epigramophone]

Roger and Steve, are these three machines contemporaneous? Mechanically they seem almost identical to each other (maybe with different motors), fitted in custom cabinets. Do you know other Deccalian models? It looks an interesting line of little-known collectible machines.

Barnett Samuel & Sons Ltd introduced the Decca portable in 1914 and the Deccalian range of period style models in 1921.
The Decca Gramophone Company and the Decca Record Company were not formed until 1928 and 1929 respectively.
Barnett Samuel used motors and soundboxes bought in from Paillard. Garrard motors came later.

The Casket model on eBay is dated 1921 and my Wine Cooler is dated 1922. I do not know when production ceased, but there is a 1926 Deccalian catalogue in the National Archives (not available to view on line) so they must have lasted at least until then.
The Boudoir and Salon Deccalians were described in CLPGS FtR No.33, with catalogue illustrations by courtesy of Roger Thorne.
I do not have a Deccalian catalogue, but someone who has tells me that my Wine Cooler model does not appear in it.

Here are a couple of table models, one badged as Deccalian and one not, which I have found on line :

[Steve]

Roger and Steve, are these three machines contemporaneous? Mechanically they seem almost identical to each other (maybe with different motors), fitted in custom cabinets. Do you know other Deccalian models? It looks an interesting line of little-known collectible machines.

Barnett Samuel & Sons Ltd introduced the Decca portable in 1914 and the Deccalian range of period style models in 1921.
The Decca Gramophone Company and the Decca Record Company were not formed until 1929.
Barnett Samuel used motors and soundboxes bought in from Paillard. Garrard motors came later.

The Boudoir and Salon Deccalians were described in CLPGS FtR No.33, with catalogue illustrations by courtesy of Roger Thorne. I do not have a Deccalian catalogue, but someone who has tells me that my Wine Cooler model does not appear in it.

Here are a couple of table models, one badged as Deccalian and one not, which I have found on line :

The top photo appears to show a Model with 12" turntable. The current Ebay example has a 10" which is what I'd expect, although it noticeably has a 12" crack straight across the lid. I've seen this on other Deccalian models. I wonder why they suffer from that?

[Steve]

I think the top photo in Roger's post is the same machine model as the one I mentioned in the other Roger's sale, shown below:

[epigramophone]

The crack on the eBay machine is not putting off the bidders. £77 yesterday. £310 so far today and still over a week to go.

[Steve]

In that sale I also bought this Dulcephone in its carrying case:

[Steve]

Roger and Steve, are these three machines contemporaneous? Mechanically they seem almost identical to each other (maybe with different motors), fitted in custom cabinets. Do you know other Deccalian models? It looks an interesting line of little-known collectible machines.

I do not know when production ceased.

The Roger Thorne "Casket 1A" model, identical to the current Ebay example, was dated April 1923. Most appear to be dated between 1921 and 1923. Has anyone seen a Deccalian with a 1924 or later date?

[CarlosV]

Thanks Steve and Roger for the information about these Deccalians. Roger's post showing the table tops actually triggered my memory: I have that machine! It is sitting on a top shelf, and I completely forgot about it. Here are photos of it, but differently from the impression Steve got out of the photos, it has a 10 inch turntable. The machine is actually relatively small for a table top, but it is nice-looking, the reason why I bought it years ago.

[Steve]

Thanks Steve and Roger for the information about these Deccalians. Roger's post showing the table tops actually triggered my memory: I have that machine! It is sitting on a top shelf, and I completely forgot about it. Here are photos of it, but differently from the impression Steve got out of the photos, it has a 10 inch turntable. The machine is actually relatively small for a table top, but it is nice-looking, the reason why I bought it years ago.

Oh, so that's where it went! I'm glad you got it, Carlos. It is a fantastic condition machine and as I thought, it is of course badged as a "Deccalian".

PS - Is this the one from Roger Thorne's sale? Unless I'm reading things incorrectly, your machine is missing the needle bowl; I don't recall the RT example missing one? It was 13 years ago, mind you!

Second PS - I think you're referring to the model rather than the specific example pictured! The machine is attractive and it reminds me a little of the Pathé Elf which I also like and have an example of in my collection.

[CarlosV]

Oh, so that's where it went! I'm glad you got it, Carlos. It is a fantastic condition machine and as I thought, it is of course badged as a "Deccalian".

PS - Is this the one from Roger Thorne's sale? Unless I'm reading things incorrectly, your machine is missing the needle bowl; I don't recall the RT example missing one? It was 13 years ago, mind you!

Second PS - I think you're referring to the model rather than the specific example pictured! The machine is attractive and it reminds me a little of the Pathé Elf which I also like and have an example of in my collection.

Hi Steve, it is the same model, but not the Roger Thorne one, I bought this one in 2015, and it is in great shape as well. I took off the needle bowl as it had some used needles in it, and forgot to put it back for the photos: good catch, it is still in my pocket! Indeed it reminds the Elf, with similar dimensions and the pagoda-looking lid.