Columbia Graphophone model BO

[fran604g]

Looking for some info on availability, price, rarity, etc. While reading Paul and George's "The Talking Machine" I accidentally fell in love with this particular machine. Hopefully there will be one in my future.

Maybe it's the oddity of the blending of technologies that I find attractive.

This is a cylinder machine with a back mount horn.

Fran

[ChuckA]

Fran,

The Columbia tone arm machines are very interesting machines. I posted this picture of the 6 models in my collection

From Top left:

BET_________BFT__________BGT
BKT_________BVT__________BQ



The BO you have selected to acquire is probably the hardest to find, as you can it is on my want list also.

The BGT is a stunning machine with the mahogany case,nickel plated mechanism and nickel horn, they are elegant
with the mahogany horn.
The most common models are the BKT and BET, with the BET coming out on top for style. They are also the models most likely to have the 2/4 minute conversion on. The BQ and BO don't have the "T" in the model name as they were only available with a tone arm.
There are two versions of the BVT, one used a bolted on tone arm assembly, the other used a removable tonearm assembly that was held on to the machine by a thumbscrew and anchor bar.


Chuck

[fran604g]

Fran,

The Columbia tone arm machines are very interesting machines. I posted this picture of the 6 models in my collection

From Top left:

BET_________BFT__________BGT
BKT_________BVT__________BQ



The BO you have selected to acquire is probably the hardest to find, as you can it is on my want list also.

The BGT is a stunning machine with the mahogany case,nickel plated mechanism and nickel horn, they are elegant
with the mahogany horn.
The most common models are the BKT and BET, with the BET coming out on top for style. They are also the models most likely to have the 2/4 minute conversion on. The BQ and BO don't have the "T" in the model name as they were only available with a tone arm.
There are two versions of the BVT, one used a bolted on tone arm assembly, the other used a removable tonearm assembly that was held on to the machine by a thumbscrew and anchor bar.


Chuck

WOW! Very nice.

Those nickel plated horns are really outstanding! I can see I will have my work cut out for me.

Thank you for the wonderful pictures!

Fran

[flashpanblue]

Wow!!! Chuck, What a fantastic group of Columbia Graphophones. I have a BE and a BG but yours look way better with the rear mount back bracket and nickel horn set up.
Pete

[TinfoilPhono]

I've owned a BO for very nearly 50 years -- July 1964 to be precise. Unfortunately the only photo I have of it is very old and very small, and I have it up on a shelf where it's hard to access to take better pictures.

I bought it as pictured, with Herzog half-barrel full of records.



It has a 2&4 minute adjustment but the spring-loaded reproducer chews up wax, and the mid-size stylus -- Columbia's attempt at a one-size-fits-all -- doesn't sound all that great with 4 minute cylinders. So I'm pretty much reduced to playing 2-minute Indestructibles.

It's a bit perplexing since it has a 6" mandrel, and all the "Twentieth Century" cylinders were wax. Surely they couldn't have held up with this reproducer.

I bought the whole ensemble for $40. That seems stupid cheap today but it was by far the most expensive phonograph I had bought up until then. I rationalized it by saying the machine was $25 and the cabinet $15. Of course, that was still a lot of money for a teenager in those days.

[ChuckA]

It has a 2&4 minute adjustment but the spring-loaded reproducer chews up wax, and the mid-size stylus -- Columbia's attempt at a one-size-fits-all -- doesn't sound all that great with 4 minute cylinders. So I'm pretty much reduced to playing 2-minute Indestructibles.

I have one of those "4 minute" one size fits all reproducers and you're right - sounds bad. I'm having a couple of 4 minute reproducer needle bars fitted with a diamond stylus. It will be interesting to hear how a BA will sound on them.


Chuck

[fran604g]

I've owned a BO for very nearly 50 years -- July 1964 to be precise. Unfortunately the only photo I have of it is very old and very small, and I have it up on a shelf where it's hard to access to take better pictures.

I bought it as pictured, with Herzog half-barrel full of records.



It has a 2&4 minute adjustment but the spring-loaded reproducer chews up wax, and the mid-size stylus -- Columbia's attempt at a one-size-fits-all -- doesn't sound all that great with 4 minute cylinders. So I'm pretty much reduced to playing 2-minute Indestructibles.

It's a bit perplexing since it has a 6" mandrel, and all the "Twentieth Century" cylinders were wax. Surely they couldn't have held up with this reproducer.

I bought the whole ensemble for $40. That seems stupid cheap today but it was by far the most expensive phonograph I had bought up until then. I rationalized it by saying the machine was $25 and the cabinet $15. Of course, that was still a lot of money for a teenager in those days.

Impressive! I guess you could say you beat the crowd! Nice. If I could only go back in time...

[Jerry B.]

In addition to wonderful photos, accurate and informative information, there is an estimate of values in George and Tim's books. The Columbia BO shown in their "Talking Machine Compendium" with a painted metal horn was valued at $1800. Of course you have to remember that markets change and there has been some time since the book was published, but that's a good start. All of Tim and George's books are a wealth of knowledge and candy to your eyes. Jerry Blais

[fran604g]

In addition to wonderful photos, accurate and informative information, there is an estimate of values in George and Tim's books. The Columbia BO shown in their "Talking Machine Compendium" with a painted metal horn was valued at $1800. Of course you have to remember that markets change and there has been some time since the book was published, but that's a good start. All of Tim and George's books are a wealth of knowledge and candy to your eyes. Jerry Blais

Yes, I am nearly finished with "The Taking Machine", 2nd Ed., and then I am on to another for more...I can't get enough of this.

[FloridaClay]

These are beautiful and interesting machines. Something else to add to my one-of-these-days wish list.

Clay