Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
User avatar
phonogfp
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 7963
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
Location: New York's Finger Lakes

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by phonogfp »

Martymar06 wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 12:05 pm Model AB

1. Serial Number: 750045
2. Front decal type: "The Graphophone"
3. Cities: New York and London
Marty, your AB's serial number is missing a digit. If it's missing a zero, you have the 45th AB produced.

Also, I've never seen an AB with a "New York and London" decal. Could you please post a picture?

Thank!

George P.

User avatar
ChuckA
Victor III
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:32 pm
Personal Text: Learn from the mistakes of others - You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Location: South Eastern PA
Contact:

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by ChuckA »

Marty,

Thanks for the information. Two questions though, so far all the AB's with serial numbers below 751000 have used a pin type reproducer lift not the more common "T" arm on all the other AB's and virtually all other Columbia models that used a lift arm. Could you post a picture of the serial number and the lift mechanism?

The AF and AD machines are a sore spot in making intelligent observations as they have no serial number and no way to keep track of machines that change hands. I add them to the list but in the end it won't be an accurate count. You say yours is dark oak cabinet, another picture please, so far all the AF's I have seen are light oak. Maybe like the AN's there was a light and dark oak finish available.

Thanks
Chuck
Last edited by ChuckA on Sat May 31, 2025 2:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
ChuckA
Victor III
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:32 pm
Personal Text: Learn from the mistakes of others - You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Location: South Eastern PA
Contact:

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by ChuckA »

George,
Of the 40+ AB's in the database all have the New York and Paris banner. But the earliest number I have is 750,202, maybe there was an earlier banner.

Chuck

User avatar
phonogfp
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 7963
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
Location: New York's Finger Lakes

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by phonogfp »

ChuckA wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 2:52 pm George,
Of the 40+ AB's in the database all have the New York and Paris banner. But the earliest number I have is 750,202, maybe there was an earlier banner.

Chuck
The "New York and London" is a late decal. I've never seen one on an AB, which is why I asked for a picture.

George P.

Martymar06
Victor Jr
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2025 10:48 pm
Location: South central Pa

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by Martymar06 »

Sorry about that but the banner is The Graphophone ,New York and Paris. My mistake. The serial # is 750045, I just double checked. As for the fork and T lift maybe it was changed out from a previous owner. I will try to send a picture in a day or two. Again sorry for the mixup Chuck.

User avatar
ChuckA
Victor III
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:32 pm
Personal Text: Learn from the mistakes of others - You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Location: South Eastern PA
Contact:

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by ChuckA »

Marty

Thanks for the clarification on the banner.
Now for the real issue, the lift pin.

Any chance the 75 is a poorly stamped 76?

Chuck

JerryVan
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6380
Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 3:08 pm
Location: Southeast MI

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by JerryVan »

ChuckA wrote: Sat May 31, 2025 2:52 pm George,
Of the 40+ AB's in the database...

Chuck
Did my AB, Serial Number: 756169, already appear in your database before my posting it here?

Yamaphone
Victor O
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 6:32 pm
Location: Hurley, New York

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by Yamaphone »

Model AB

Serial Number: 759666
Decal: The GRAPHOPHONE
Cities: NEW YORK & PARIS
Reproducer: #5 (D)
Lift: Forked Reproducer and T bar lift

I acquired this machine about a year ago from a dealer and I can't be certain that the D reproducer is the one that the machine was originally supplied with or a later substitution, but it does have the fork style lift.

User avatar
ChuckA
Victor III
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:32 pm
Personal Text: Learn from the mistakes of others - You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Location: South Eastern PA
Contact:

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by ChuckA »

Yes, Jerry it was already in the data base

Chuck

User avatar
ChuckA
Victor III
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:32 pm
Personal Text: Learn from the mistakes of others - You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Location: South Eastern PA
Contact:

Re: Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

Post by ChuckA »

Yamaphone, your AB is the highest serial number so far.
There doesn't seem to be any pattern to which reproducer was used. Just as many early units have the #5 as the later ones. pretty much 50/50 with a couple of #2 reproducers.

How about at least a first name to go with your machine in the database?

Thanks

Chuck

Post Reply