Columbia Disc Graphophone

[doublemike]

Hi!
I'm new on this forum, so I say "hello" to everyone!

What about this item:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Columbi ... 6989wt_937

I own a HMV 130, as in picture, and I would bring him a horned friend...

My gramophone:

[kirtley2012]

on the machine on ebay i think the tonearm is a replacement, it doesnt line up propery so would seriously damage records, but if it is all original it could go $1000+

[Steve]

What tone-arm? It's a front mount machine.

Also the horn looks wrong to me. Too small and the connection looks a bit 'off'. If it's right it sure doesn't look it!

[doublemike]

mmm...

In the advertisement the seller writes:
"...as I was winding it something must have slipped inside as the handle turns but doesn't wind up the motor anymore. When I lift the lid and turn the motor by hand all the gears move. I was told by a local collector I called that the motor is good but that it needs a spring..."

[kirtley2012]

What tone-arm? It's a front mount machine.

Also the horn looks wrong to me. Too small and the connection looks a bit 'off'. If it's right it sure doesn't look it!

some columbias did have small horns but this looks too small!

what is the arm that the horn/reproducer are connected to? i am not really "up-to-date" with front mount machines
anyways that arm looks too small

[Steve]

I think you are referring to the travelling arm?

[doublemike]

It seems an "AU/AH hybrid"... what do you think?
http://www.intertique.com/ColumbiaGraph ... ounts.html

eBay item should be an AH Graphophone.
The arm and the horn in eBay auction seem too small, honestly.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIUEF3BbqKo[/youtube]

[estott]

I think you are referring to the travelling arm?

That's just what I was going to post- and it does appear to be a bit short. Columbia's cast alloy traveling arms are notorious for getting lost, or broken (especially the openwork ones) so it very well might be a reproduction. It's still excellent value at the current bid.

[gramophone78]

Hi!
I'm new on this forum, so I say "hello" to everyone!

What about this item:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Columbi ... 6989wt_937

I own a HMV 130, as in picture, and I would bring him a horned friend...

My gramophone:

If you like this type of machine and you can afford the cost & shipping.....then the rest is up to you. However, if you are in Italy. You may want to contact the seller. Most North American sellers will not ship to Italy or Spain. Way too many problems.

[Uncle Vanya]

The travelling arm, bracket and horn are incorrect for this machine. The bracket and travelling arm appear to be reproductions, and poor ones at that. These parts were origianally cast of a rather poor aluminum alloy, one which tends to be terribly brittle, and so replacements are often necessary. The machine that you posted appears to have rou, sand-cast partsm rather than the better quality, smooth, die- cast units which became available in the late 1980's. The AH was originally sold with a 21 inch (54 centimeter) horn with black body and a brass bell. Larger horns, and hence longer travelling arms, were available at an advance in price.

The better reproduction fromt mounts were manufactured by Norm and Jayne Smith, of Poland, Ohio USA. They offered reproductions of nearly every travelling arm and bracket used on any front mount talking machine. A couple of years ago Norm and his charming wife sold their stock and began a well earned retirement. Their high-quality, modestly priced reproduction parts drove nearly everyone else from the field, but now we have no source for these necessary its.


The Columbia AH is a fine machine, and was relatively expensive when new, selling originally for $45.00, $5.00 more than the rather plainer Victor Monarch. The machine has a strong mortor, which can be made to be reasonably quiet, and is a steady runner. The reproducer used by Columbia at that time was quite good, and these machines sound quite nice, particulaly considering their early date. Though the AH is indeed a fine machine, the example that you posted would be a bit of a project to put right, and the parts which you would need are rather difficult to find.