The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Whether Leo can get his money back is largely dependent on how it was sold to him in the first place. If it was bought "as seen" without guarantees then he is not entitled to anything. However if it was sold by a dealer who stated that it was a genuine antique gramophone AND put this in writing on a receipt (when did anyone last get a receipt from a dealer - Guido Severens is the only dealer I've ever encountered in 22 years who gives such things), then he might well be entitled to a refund.

GOOD LUCK!

Do you think the one that I have is fake or real?

Hello,

First of all, thanks for your reactions. I will keep the machine, because the sonata soundbox plays really fine the older 78 RPM records. I have other gramophones but this gramophone made me hesitate if it is a crapophone or a real one. My hobby started with a grapophone 10 years ago. Andf the quality of this kind of machines was poor. No decent soundbox, no decent soundarm, only a wooden hole around the crank etc. This one is little but well proportioned. Do you mind if I sent photo's from the motor for a last verification?

Greetings + thamks

Leo

Do you think the one that I have is fake or real?

On the balance of probability, I would say your machine is genuine apart from the soundbox. The horn is certainly the right type as is the elbow and back-bracket. The brake and speed control do not set alarm bells ringing either.

I could be wrong, but that turntable looks like a 1930's Garrard, and so does the brake.

Phono48 wrote:I could be wrong, but that turntable looks like a 1930's Garrard, and so does the brake.

The parlophone catalog shows this style brake.

If this is a frankenphone it is certainly better than most- for one thing the crank is where it ought to be and the arm and back bracket look good. I think that someone has smeared the case with stain, I have a genuine but modest Swiss machine of the era which has been similarly defaced.

Hello,

As a said I should make some photographs in detail of my gramophone,
I made photo's of the motorboard, the brake, the speed controll and the motor. On the motor I can read Garrard n0 20, made in england, refer. nr 133

Please your comments for a final evaluation of this machine !

The Garrard No.20 motor was fitted to a wide variety of British made (some would say assembled) portable gramophones from the late 1920's right through to the early post war era.

Unfortunately it's presence in your machine confirms the suspicions which others have already voiced.

Yes, it's a Frankenphone or a high quality Crapophone if you prefer.