Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
Post Reply
User avatar
phonogfp
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 7966
Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
Location: New York's Finger Lakes

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by phonogfp »

I agree - please keep the photos coming. I'm enjoying all the different phonospaces. :)

George P.

User avatar
Zwebie
Victor IV
Posts: 1460
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:55 pm
Personal Text: We are only the caretakers for future generations.
Location: FLORIDA

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by Zwebie »

Is that a Columbia Grand tucked in next to the Opera?
I'd love to see some pictures of it.
Thanks to both of you for posting!
Gene
Gene,

The phonograph next to the Opera is a 1908 Columbia BC Graphophone.
In fact it is the "actual" BC from the former Ernie Bennett collection, Higham reproducer restored by Reid Welch in 1984, and highlighted on pages 74,75, & 145 in the Eric Reiss book "The Compleat Talking Machine".

I was extremely fortunate to aquire this machine in 2012 via some "horse trading" with Raphael Cole of Musical Treasures of Miami. It is an amazing machine producing the greatest volume of sound of any 2min. machine that I have ever heard!

I have been meaning to put together a video of this machine playing, but I just haven't gotten round to it. Reid Welch posted this video in 2008, which shows off this machine in all it's glory. (You may notice that he incorrectly identifies this machine as a 1905 BC, but the black carriage was actually introduced in 1908).

Enjoy, Bob S.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9PYd_29PhU[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPUoI32SGDM[/youtube]
Last edited by Zwebie on Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:51 am, edited 2 times in total.

Moooperator
Victor I
Posts: 179
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:55 am

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by Moooperator »

Well I was going to haunt George's attic when I passed to the other side but it looks like I'll need to split up my eternity at several of you folk's houses! Absolutely the things my dreams are made of! Hailey, your place would take days to catch everything you have packed in there!

User avatar
gemering
Victor IV
Posts: 1189
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:35 pm

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by gemering »

Bob,
What a wonderful machine with a great pedigree.
Did Reid rebuild the Higham reproducer?
The machine sounds fantastic in the video.
Do you have George Paul's article on the BC in a past edition of the
Sound Box?
If not, send me your address in a PM and I'll mail you the entire journal.
Thanks for sharing the video!
Gene

NOW, KEEP THE PHOTOS COMING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE ONE MACHINE OR ONE THOUSAND AND ONE!
THIS IS A GREAT THREAD!!!!
GENE

User avatar
gemering
Victor IV
Posts: 1189
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:35 pm

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by gemering »

Opps,
Missed the bottom video showing the reproducer rebuild of Bob's 20th century.
Very interesting!
Gene

User avatar
Dave
Victor II
Posts: 328
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:50 pm
Personal Text: Gramophonist
Location: KY.

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by Dave »

Here's a few pics of my Triumph "A" with 2/4 minute attachment,Oak Music Master horn.
Cabinet is the early style with sharp corners.Elbow on the horn is a reproduction from Dwayne Wyatt.


Phono pics 009.jpg
Phono pics 001.jpg
Phono pics 002.jpg
Phono pics 003.jpg
Last edited by Dave on Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

clevelander
Victor II
Posts: 275
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:06 pm
Location: Guisborough Yorks

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by clevelander »

A few views of my (very) cramped attic phonograph room.
Since these photos were taken they have spread, out of control, across the floor!
Attachments
Bridget 002.jpg
Another favourite New style Home
Another favourite New style Home
One of my favourite machines, the Columbia BF
One of my favourite machines, the Columbia BF
The ill-fated HMV Lumiere Diaphragm machine on sale for only one year in 1926. A marketing flop.
The ill-fated HMV Lumiere Diaphragm machine on sale for only one year in 1926. A marketing flop.
Bridget 008.jpg
Bridget 007.jpg
Bridget 006.jpg
Bridget 005.jpg
Bridget 004.jpg
Bridget 003.jpg

User avatar
Dave
Victor II
Posts: 328
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:50 pm
Personal Text: Gramophonist
Location: KY.

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by Dave »

clevelander....
You have a beautiful collection...
I'm very curious about the sound qualities of your HMV Lumiere machine...
How is it different or similar from a conventional reproducer?
Your thoughts?

clevelander
Victor II
Posts: 275
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:06 pm
Location: Guisborough Yorks

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by clevelander »

Dave,
The Lumiere machine has a surprisingly good, mellow tone with good volume. There are a couple of good videos on Youtube
They were intoduced too late, just as electrical recrding was being introduced, which negated the slight tonal advantage they had over conventional gramophones.
The propensity to damage and their cost meant very few were sold, and The Gramophone Company withdrew them re-using the remaining cases for more conventional models.

User avatar
howardpgh
Victor II
Posts: 430
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 4:34 pm
Location: Pittsburgh

Re: Phonospace (or, "Where's Waldo?)

Post by howardpgh »

Everyone has beautiful machines.
Once you're pricked with a needle, there is no stopping the collection infection! :lol:

Post Reply