A rip off?

[JerryVan]

... I offered to go there and repair it on the place for free, just for the joy of seeing it work but he didn't want to do it.

I have offered free services as well and have been turned down most of the time. It seems that people can't conceive of anyone doing something without obvious personal gain, and it makes them suspicious. The times when my offer was accepted, however, gave me great personal gain, (just not the type you take to the bank ).

[Inigo]

YEs, yes.... they are spoiled and don't understand the joy of making things work just for the pleasure of getting things right!

[slammer]

There is of course this guy nearby. I actually have the Standgrammophone shown on the website.
https://grammophonwerkstatt.de/

It seems he sells Crapophones too...

I have to break a lance for the guy here. He also supplies movie makers and theaters with machines and has told me that he no longer gives them first rate machines as they tend to come back worse for wear, so I would expect a range of crapophones in the line up.

[JerryVan]

There is of course this guy nearby. I actually have the Standgrammophone shown on the website.
https://grammophonwerkstatt.de/

It seems he sells Crapophones too...

I have to break a lance for the guy here. He also supplies movie makers and theaters with machines and has told me that he no longer gives them first rate machines as they tend to come back worse for wear, so I would expect a range of crapophones in the line up.

That makes sense!

[jamiegramo]

Yes, I know this example, I've been watching it on the web many times...
I've also seen photos of another model which has yet more elaborated ornament, including four golden angels in the corners engraving the records, which are small miniature records inserted at the corners as if they emerged from under the machine, with labels and all... !! I don't remember where I saw it... Maybe also here.
Which one was the top of the line model?

Found the rare example in the same site
https://www.antiguedades.es/es/gramofon ... -1910.html

Inigo thank you for the link! I think the gramophone with 4 recording angels is one of the most extraordinary machines I’ve seen, at least from the associated gramophone companies. The angels are clearly modelled on the trademark and I wonder if this was produced as an exhibition piece. It’s like an advertisement. Even the HMV trademark is done in ormolu. Each angel sits on a shellac record which I hope isn’t a 5 inch Berliner!

[Steve]

Yes, I know this example, I've been watching it on the web many times...
I've also seen photos of another model which has yet more elaborated ornament, including four golden angels in the corners engraving the records, which are small miniature records inserted at the corners as if they emerged from under the machine, with labels and all... !! I don't remember where I saw it... Maybe also here.
Which one was the top of the line model?

Found the rare example in the same site
https://www.antiguedades.es/es/gramofon ... -1910.html

Inigo thank you for the link! I think the gramophone with 4 recording angels is one of the most extraordinary machines I’ve seen, at least from the associated gramophone companies. The angels are clearly modelled on the trademark and I wonder if this was produced as an exhibition piece. It’s like an advertisement. Even the HMV trademark is done in ormolu. Each angel sits on a shellac record which I hope isn’t a 5 inch Berliner!

Believe it or not, it wasn't a special exhibition model. It is a production model and is shown in my Spanish HMV instrument catalogues. It is a curiosity though. I'd probably quite happily sell half a dozen machines to pay for one of those should I be lucky enough to get that opportunity.

[jamiegramo]

Believe it or not, it wasn't a special exhibition model. It is a production model and is shown in my Spanish HMV instrument catalogues. It is a curiosity though. I'd probably quite happily sell half a dozen machines to pay for one of those should I be lucky enough to get that opportunity.

Yes but not the Spanish No. 9! I think it’s my favourite.

[Steve]

Believe it or not, it wasn't a special exhibition model. It is a production model and is shown in my Spanish HMV instrument catalogues. It is a curiosity though. I'd probably quite happily sell half a dozen machines to pay for one of those should I be lucky enough to get that opportunity.

Yes but not the Spanish No. 9! I think it’s my favourite.

No, I'd definitely keep the '9' and '13C' as its baby brothers!

[epigramophone]

Each angel sits on a shellac record which I hope isn’t a 5 inch Berliner!

In the close-up picture, the record on which the angel sits is chipped and cracked. Your fears may be well founded.

[Inigo]

I don't knw the spanish instrument catalogue of Steve, never seen it before. It would be a great thing to see... What year is it from?
The records seem to have red labels on them (one of them in one of the photos) so they may be what the spanish catalogues named Discos Bebé, the 5-inchers, which were sold at a lesser price. I've seen them in 1903-1906 catalogues, I must check exactly where, and during which years they appeared. But these weren't Berliners, as they were recorded by contemporary artists in the catalog.