Help identifying Columbia Viva Tonal portable

[Daryl]

Hello all,

I've seen dozens of portable Columbia Viva Tonals in my day, but none that look like this one on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330741721904?ss ... 1423.l2649

It simply does not look like a Columbia design. Or maybe it is a very early design and someone added a different soundbox on it later? The soundbox isn't the vaunted 15 (the earliest Viva Tonal soundbox used by Columbia). I am a bit suspicious about the Columbia Viva Tonal logo on the inner lid because, as I said, this looks very little like what I've come to know as the Viva Tonal machine.

Any help?

Thanks!

[doublemike]

The logo doesn't seem be coherent with the lid background "wrinkles"... it seems as "attached" to me.

[Uncle Vanya]

What doesn't look Columbia about it?

This machine is fitted with a Columbia No. 23 reproducer, and is typical of 1929 and 1930 American production. the speed control is typical Columbia for this period. The motor was a Heniemann product, as by this time Columbia had ceased production of their own motors, using Heinemann motors on their American machines, and Garrard units in Britain. I believe that the tone arm on these late machines was out-sourced. I have seen early production of these units with the typical Columbia portable arm with overhang support and No 15, <edit> er, No. 16,<edit> reproducer, but still with the Heinemann motor.

Nice machine, actually.

Here is one in action, but I think that the reproducer may need rebuilding, it should sound better. The No. 23 sound box was in production until the 1960's, I understand.


[YouTube]http://youtu.be/WgLp3PsFgTY[/YouTube]

I have not found the later sound box to be too far superior to the earlier, save in the very upper register, but there the difference is slight. The later unit does appear to have been much less expensive to manufacture, and is rather lighter to boot.

[FloridaClay]

It looks to be dead on for a Model 120, circa 1928. If you have Baumbach's Columbia Phonograph Companion, Vol. 2, it's on page 202. Baumbach indicates that the reproducer for this model is a number 16.

Clay

[Daryl]

Thanks for the replies! I don't have access to Baumbach's Columbia book to look this machine up and since the auction closes soon I thought I'd talk to the knowledgeable fellows here first to see what you all thought.

I have a UK made Viva-Tonal 113a with a Garrard motor and it is a beaut! This just looked odd to me at first, maybe it was the soundbox that threw me off. I've never seen a 23. I can only imagine that the 23 soundbox would be an improvement over the 16. It is common to find Victrolas that originally came with Exhibition soundboxes later fitted with No. 2's as Victor themselves encouraged owners to upgrade their soundboxes for improved sound. I don't know if that was Columbia's practice, but it only stands to reason that it would make sense, unless there are compelling sonic reasons why one shouldn't.

[Guest]

[quote="Uncle Vanya"]What doesn't look Columbia about it?

. The motor was a Heniemann product, as by this time Columbia had ceased production of their own motors, using Heinemann motors on their American machines, and Garrard units in Britain.
[/quote]

Hmm, seems this US Columbia 160 used an English Garrard motor!

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=2443

[estott]

Welcome to Albany!

Columbia portables come in a bewildering amount of variations, more so when you factor in the American and UK ones, plus the Columbia/HMV machines.