My latest phonograph (or I should say 'gramophone') purchase

[ewok]

I bought this Decca Junior J-1 off eBay from a British seller. A label inside indicates this Decca Junior came out of the factory on December 20 1926.

Now I know why British army officers brought Decca's "horn-in-lid" portables to their trenches during WW1 because these little guys are cannons. I can imagine that music from the British side could very likely be heard accross the "no man's land" during WW1!
Here's the video I made today. (I rebuilt the reproducer but obviously I may need to adjust the tension of the needle holder!)
Music is Canadian Medley March No.1 recorded on 12/12/1912.

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnpa4PiQFvI[/youtubehd]

[Jerry B.]

I like it! It's an interesting little machine with a big sound. Jerry

[Nat]

I'd LOVE to find one of those! My Decca Salon is a great machine, too. They did some good things!

[epigramophone]

They are remarkable machines, and my 1923 example certainly punches above it's weight.

Although we cannot be certain who invented the portable gramophone, Decca was the market leader in the UK until the introduction of the HMV101 in 1925.

Here are some period ads showing how the design was further developed in 1927.

[ewok]

In his book, Eric Reiss remarks on 1914 Decca "trench" portable's tone-arm having "a fairly good offset and minimal tracking error." Also, the horn-in-the-lid design was meant for mass production, because the procedure of making the horns was identical to that of making steel helmets for Tommy boys!)