Columbia Grafonola ID

[jaimzb]

My first post on this forum! I have restored many Edison and Victor machines, but never owned a Columbia Grafonola. I picked this one up the other day at a local thrift store. Most of the Grafonolas I have come across had very plain cabinets, but this one is quite nice. As you know, Victor was very good about marking their products with Model numbers etc., but the Columbia products are tougher to identify. Can somebody inform me of the model number and date of this unit?

It is in excellent cosmetic shape, barring a piece of wood broken off the back of the lid (somebody flipped it back and the hinge tore out!). Mechanically, the motor has a broken spring which I will repair as soon as the replacement spring arrives, and rebuild the reproducer as well. Also, the eject-system record storage compartment is missing all the slats. Has anybody ever replaced all those thin, wood pieces?

Thank you in advance!
Steve

[De Soto Frank]

Hi Steve, and Welcome !

Looks like a bit of a project, but you sure got a "honey" of a cabinet!

I'll leave the ID to others, but it looks like someone else's project that was never completed.

( Hint - some Grafonolas have the model name / number at the bottom of the lid decal...)


While that looks to be a Grafonola motor, I don't think it's the original one to that cabinet, so you might want to hold-back on the spring repair...

The tone arm and reproducer look like they might be the originals... or at least functional Columbia parts.

One of the Forum members just rebuilt the slat-storage and ejector mechanism, so he/she would be able to counsel you on that part of things...

In the meantime, closely study what is there, and look for original screw-holes in the cabinet for clues to the original motor fitment, etc.


I have only recently gotten into Grafonolas, and the majority seem to be seriously alligatored mahogany finishes...

[Dave]

One of the Forum members just rebuilt the slat-storage and ejector mechanism, so he/she would be able to counsel you on that part of things...

Beautiful tiger stripe oak on your Graphonola!....
As mentioned..here's a link to the info..
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =7&t=14744

[jaimzb]

Yes, Frank, I did notice only one motor mounting screw hole lines up! I am looking forward to input regarding the correct motor etc. for this machine.

Steve

[jaimzb]

One of the Forum members just rebuilt the slat-storage and ejector mechanism, so he/she would be able to counsel you on that part of things...

Beautiful tiger stripe oak on your Graphonola!....
As mentioned..here's a link to the info..
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =7&t=14744

Thank you, Dave! It will be a heck of a lot of work clearing out the channels that have the broken off slats glued (I assume) in.

[FloridaClay]

A very handsome cabinet. I looked through The Columbia Phonograph Companion, Volume II, which has the Columbia disc machines, but did not find an exact match. That is no sign, though. Columbia had a lot of model variations and they are not all in the book, I've found. There are several in the book that are similar in design, but with more elaborate carvings (or appliques) on the skirt.

Clay

[mikejk]

Here is what your motor board should look like or at least something like this. I have the same cabinet in burl walnut, and there is no match for it in the book as already stated by Clay, not even the same measurments but it seems to be a Grafonola 100. Mine has the tilt out record bin, so there's another wringle.

[jaimzb]

Thank you for the information so far. It may be difficult obtaining the correct motor board and tonearm setup (anybody have a spare?). The current tonearm and motor board are a match, so I may, reluctantly, have to utilize the parts. One mounting screw will fit, and the crank arm locates the works, but I would have to add at least one more mounting point. Oh boy.

Regarding the model/date of this unit, I am assuming it is between 1915 - 1920, but it looks like it is hard to pinpoint the exact year.

Steve

[mikejk]

The motor board set up you have is a good one with the automatic braking system. I believe your motor and plate came from a later model. These come up on Ebay from time to time and you should be able to find the right one. I think I have a spare round plate like the one I pictured but it is very rusty and I do not have the motor for it. Your cabinet is beautiful, very nice!. No illustration in the book shows the same corner carvings as on your cabinet or my burl walnut cabinet, so I am guessing here that maybe they were reserved for the special veneers??

[mikejk]

I'm sorry, I just checked. The rusty spare plate I have is the same one you already have. My memory is really going! Mike