![[The Talking Machine Forum - For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings]](/styles/we_universal/theme/images/the_talking_machine_forum.png)
All,
This was an interesting find I thought I would share with the group. I recently purchased a group of 4 phonographs at an auction in Van Nuys, CA. Included were an Edison Gem, Home, Triumph, and Zonophone. I bid and purchased based on relatively poor pictures from the auction site, and all appeared to need some work. When they arrived, I was surprised to find the Zon-o-phone had a very early Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo tag on the side of the cabinet, along with the original dealer tag from Los Angeles. Research on the internet indicates the MGM logo is from the period 1924-1928. Looking further on the internet, I found a press photo featuring this Zon-o-phone with actress Jean Simmons, indicating it was used as a movie prop in her 1953 movie "The Actress" which co-starred Spencer Tracy. Below are pictures of the phono as received, along with the 1953 press photo. I thought it was a very neat find...even in it's present condition and missing the horn. This same press photo is also featured on the web site below.
http://phonographia.com/PhonoMovies.htm
Also included in the auction lot was a 22" all black horn with gold stripes for a cylinder phono. While the horn is very well made, I'm confident it is a very early movie prop as well. It's a long shot, but I thought I would post a picture in case someone recognized it from a movie.
David Boruff
Zon-o-phone in the Movies
-
drboruff
- Victor I
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:43 am
Zon-o-phone in the Movies
- Attachments
-
-
-
-
-
gramophoneshane
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3463
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 3:21 pm
Re: Zon-o-phone in the Movies
That Zonophone is an interesting find. Congratulations!
-
FloridaClay
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3708
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:14 pm
- Location: Merritt Island, FL
Re: Zon-o-phone in the Movies
A great little bit of history to have. Do you plan to restore it?
Clay
Clay
Arthur W. J. G. Ord-Hume's Laws of Collecting
1. Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions, regardless of their size.
2. Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of a desired object, however improbable its cost.
1. Space will expand to accommodate an infinite number of possessions, regardless of their size.
2. Shortage of finance, however dire, will never prevent the acquisition of a desired object, however improbable its cost.
-
drboruff
- Victor I
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:43 am
Re: Zon-o-phone in the Movies
Thanks. I would like to restore the machine, but also feel the need to be very careful to not over restore such that the authenticity is questioned. The horn in the press photo appears to be a spear tip with gold stenciling. Does anyone know if Zon-o-phone used this type of spear tip, or could this be a Victor horn modified by the prop room to fit a Zon-o-phone? I also sure the gold stenciling was not original, but it would be cool to restore it as it appeared in the press photo.
David
David