Featured Phonograph No. 89 - Columbia BGT

[gramophone78]

[quote="raphael"]Just got a similar one as part of a big collection:

At least your sheet looks better.... . Sorry Bruce. I wanted to beat Steve this time... .

[Raphael]

It's all in the cropping. My sheets are just as wrinkled!

[Brad]

Bruce, the sheets are not wrinkled, that is "Craftsman Plaid".

[ImperialGuardsman]

Great machine! Could you make a video of it playing? How about a 6 inch columbia record. Being a new collector, I had never heard of a 6 inch cylinder before. Did they sell well or were they a development right at the end of the columbia cylinder line?

[Tinkerbell]

Bruce, the sheets are not wrinkled, that is "Craftsman Plaid".

Then I guess one could say my husband has a lot of Craftsman Plaid shirts!

[Tinkerbell]

Maker: Columbia
Model: BGT "New Sovereign"
Years: Introduced in 1907
Original Cost: $70 with nickel horn, $80 with Symphony Mahogany, $85 with Spruce
Case/Cabinet size:
Turntable/Mandrel Size: 6 ½ inch
Reproducer/Soundbox: #11 or #12 (not sure)
Motor: Quadruple Spring
Horn Dimensions: 21.5 inches long 21 inch diameter
Repro Parts: none
Current Value Mint:
Interesting Facts: see below
Favorite Characteristics: See Below

Two & four minute machine set up to play standard cylinders as well as the six inch Columbia cylinders. A row of oiling tubes accessible on the back side of the bedplate make it possible to oil the machine without lifting the top works up. The Symphony mahogany horn was available from 1909 as well as 2 & 4 minute gearing. Given that this one is identified as a "BGT" stamped on the side of the upper works and on the paper tag under the lid, it probably dates from 1909 or a bit later.

Lovely machine, Bruce. Do you still have your website of your collection up?

I've missed the Featured Phonographs...

[gramophone78]

Tinkerball wrote: I've missed the Featured Phonographs...

Why don't you post one then??. I don't think you have....???

[Valecnik]

Just got a similar one as part of a big collection:

At least your sheet looks better.... . Sorry Bruce. I wanted to beat Steve this time... .

I go through all the work to photograph and upload these pictures hoping to stimulate some intellectual discussion about the Columbia line and what do I get??? Nothing but sheet from you all!!!

Great machine! Could you make a video of it playing? How about a 6 inch columbia record. Being a new collector, I had never heard of a 6 inch cylinder before. Did they sell well or were they a development right at the end of the columbia cylinder line?

I'd love to make a video of it playing but unfortunately I don't have this one with me in Europe. An additional problem is I only have one 6 inch Columbia record in poor condition. These machines were made pretty close to the the end of the Columbia line and are not easy to find. According to Howard Hazelcorn, only 44 - 75 survive. They sound good but a large carriage Triumph sounds better.

[Valecnik]

Lovely machine, Bruce. Do you still have your website of your collection up?

I've missed the Featured Phonographs...

Thanks Tink! Yes, the website is still up and is "new and improved" www.phonographcompany.com.

Also, over the summer, I took at least a hundred additional pics, (many better pics of machines already viewable on the site plus pics of new machines) that I have yet to put up there, all on Craftsman plaid background btw! Also, although the majority of the machines exhibited there are mine, not all are. The main purpose of the site is not to exhibit my collection but rather to offer good quality detailed pics to the collector community.

[Tinkerbell]

Tinkerball wrote: I've missed the Featured Phonographs...

Why don't you post one then??. I don't think you have....???

I might do that with my early (as in no model number) Brunswick, but the challenge is writing something up on a phonograph for which little historical information actually exists (other than what I was able to obtain from Mr. Wakeman).

I, unfortunately, do not have an impressive or interesting collection compared with the majority of collectors. I have to live vicariously through the acquisitions of other collectors here on the forum.