The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

OrthoSean is right. This thread needs to be moved to the UK section.

Celebrity Gramophones Ltd of 82 St.Thomas Street, London made gramophones, assembled using bought in components, from about 1927 to 1932. Records were also produced during 1929/30 but are difficult to find.

A few years ago I saw a machine very similar to the subject of this thread in a local auction. It was cheaply made and the sound quality from the downward facing horn was poor. Only the cylindrical cabinet made it interesting, but both Academy and Tyrela did it better.

The mechanical components are likely to have been by Paillard or Thorens. The tonearm and soundbox presently fitted are later replacements.

I attach the only picture I could find, showing an example with wickerwork finish which was briefly popular in the late 1920's.

Ah, the works to this machine, however, do look similar to my Tyrela. It has a very similar (if not the same tonearm). My reproducer is a generic one branded "Tyrela" and mine has a Garrard motor that looks quite similar to the one epigramophone shows above.

Sean

Slightly off topic, here we have a Celebrity portable :

Thanks OrthoSean and epigramophone for the additional info. And thanks to Brandon for moving the post to the British section.

Andreas

Here's another one...
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/atq/4564746640.html James.

Interesting, a half round. Unfortunately also seems to have been mucked with the tonearm?

Thanks
Andreas

The tonearm is a Novaphonic Mammoth sold through various UK trade suppliers. As the Celebrity was assembled using bought in components, it could be an original fitment.