The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'd like four of those brown Columbia albums too for my 800, but I think they must be very rare, as the machines are.

How about finding these albums? I especially like the two fake front albums on each shelf to make it
look more balanced.[

Uncle Vanya wrote:

OrthoSean wrote:Those Columbia albums you've posted photos of are for earlier Grafonolas and not the Viva Tonal models. I have ONE and if I can find it, I will post a photo, they are quite different than these. Stay tuned, I'll check one likely "spot" within a couple hours....

Sean

Well, the albums in Marc's machine turn up in "New Columbia" models. I had an 800 which came out of the estate of the original owner in Phenix, VA which was fitted with those albums. Another machine (a 710 as I recall) turned up so equipped in a junk shop in Baltimore, and yet another may still be seen in its original home in St. Louis.

Did your album come with your 711? Wasn't that a 1927 model?

In point of fact, Marc's machine is the one that came out of Miss Janie Gillham's house in Phenix VA. Those black albums were in it when I purchased it some years after her passing. This was one of two phonographs in the place, the other being a 1920 vintage Silvertone. I cannot imagine that the albums were changed at some point in the machines life, but it is, I suppose, possible. I've seen the older albums in other early Viva-Tonal machines, though, and suspect that there Amy have been some overlap. In fact I've never seen one of the brown albums in anything earlier than the second series acoustic Viva-Tonal machines and in the Columbia-Kolster electric machines. I'd really like to find a couple of e green albums for my Columbia-Kolster 950, but would need first to come up with a proper replacement for the missing amplifier and speaker, I think!

Skihawx wrote:How about finding these albums? I especially like the two fake front albums on each shelf to make it
look more balanced.[

What are you doing with THAT?

I would have expected that it would have burst into flame as it was being carried across your threshold.

How about finding these albums? I especially like the two fake front albums on each shelf to make it
look more balanced.[


Attachments:

WOW, could you post more pictures of that!
-Tom

Uncle Vanya wrote:

Skihawx wrote:How about finding these albums? I especially like the two fake front albums on each shelf to make it
look more balanced.[

What are you doing with THAT?

I would have expected that it would have burst into flame as it was being carried across your threshold.

I saw it in the window and couldn't resist. It has push pull 50's and a 14" speaker. Although I am having some problems with the speaker. The field coil has weighed down the center pole piece and it does not allow the voice coil to clear.

Tpapp54321 wrote: WOW, could you post more pictures of that!
-Tom

As I posted earlier, I am having some issues with the speaker. I lost one on eBay a little awhile ago before I realized how much trouble this one will cause. And I didn't think it would have gone that high. Looking for other Kolster parts chassis for things like transformer cans etc.

Interesting model 980 Columbia! Do the albums have the Columbia logo on them? The linen-fold design on the front doors reminds me of my 1930 Edison R-6 and R-7!