What is it ? Miraphone ?

[JeffR1]

I's like to see how that horn was made.
Made in sections and soldered together.

I can't see it being spun out of a single piece of brass, but maybe in sections.
Sections were pressed and then soldered ?

[CarlosV]

CarlosV, later on, could you give some tips on how you wille hide the worm holes on this nice machine?

If you read the previous post you'll see Carlos already answered!

Phono, you can buy wax stick sets and a battery-powered waxing tool in Amazon or similar store. A large set of sticks will make it easier to blend the different hues to match the colour of the machine veneer. Before doing this I always treat the wood by injecting a worm killing product in every hole. Filling the holes with the wax is easy, as it is to remove the excess wax once it sets (the tool set comes with plastic spatulas). The only more involved step is to match colours, it is like mixing paints, but the good part is that you can remelt the wax and try again if the result is not good. The melting temperature of such wax is relatively high, so unless you carry the machine to the Sahara, the wax will remain stable.

[epigramophone]

The melting temperature of such wax is relatively high, so unless you carry the machine to the Sahara, the wax will remain stable.

Unlike the experience of a friend who must have used the wrong wax. He made the mistake of placing his machine where it was exposed to strong sunshine, and the wax came out of the holes looking like worms.

[Sidewinder]

I's like to see how that horn was made.
Made in sections and soldered together.

I can't see it being spun out of a single piece of brass, but maybe in sections.
Sections were pressed and then soldered ?

My recollection is the latter - spun out of a single piece of brass

I have a similar one but am only home on Friday & will make more detailed photographs to illustrate the manufacture

[phonodesbois]

Phono, you can buy wax stick sets and a battery-powered waxing tool in Amazon or similar store. A large set of sticks will make it easier to blend the different hues to match the colour of the machine veneer. Before doing this I always treat the wood by injecting a worm killing product in every hole. Filling the holes with the wax is easy, as it is to remove the excess wax once it sets (the tool set comes with plastic spatulas). The only more involved step is to match colours, it is like mixing paints, but the good part is that you can remelt the wax and try again if the result is not good. The melting temperature of such wax is relatively high, so unless you carry the machine to the Sahara, the wax will remain stable.

Thanks CarlosV, I will make some shopping....

[Sidewinder]

I looked at my horn. It is 1 sheet of brass with no join. My assumption is that they started with a circular brass sheet on a lathe & formed it over a wooden form on the lathe.

Mine is a little "unsmooth", but has a great colour!

[CarlosV]

After a looong wait, the machine finally arrived, presumably shipped by horseback, as it took 33 days to travel about 700 km from Angers to Luxembourg. Anyway, it arrived intact, and as the photos show, in great shape. The only defects are the worm holes, which I treated and plugged, and some small dents on the horn, that can be straightened if I find a good musical instrument specialist around here. The machine is very nice, but the most interesting is what came with it. It probably belonged to a travelling salesman, or exhibitor, as it has a carrying box made to be strapped on someone's back - see photo of the strap. Inside the box there are brushes, a wax rod to smooth out record surfaces, needle boxes, the original lateral soundbox and a replacement vertical Pathé soundbox with the proper adapter to fit the arm (quite different from the Pathé arm). There is also a collection of records, most in their original sleeves (or covers, to please Roger), including a relatively rare Gramophone sleeve that is very thin. Among the records there is also a hand-written playlist, dated 1911, that made me speculate that it belonged to someone who made the living playing music around the villages that did not have access to the latest technology of the times. A very unique package!

[phonodesbois]

Gorgeous!!!!! Congrat.

[JerryVan]

Stunning! A time capsule!

[CarlosV]

Stunning! A time capsule!

You nailed it, Jerry, a time capsule! I just went through the playlist, and the few titles I could decipher (the writer certainly skipped the calligraphy classes) are in the pile of records.