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According to one of the US publications (Bambauch ? sorry don't know the name), there were TWO models of this pattern: 161 and 163. The 163 came BEFORE the 161. The latter machine had the black enamelled tone-arm support / pivot, the earlier 163 did not. Is this correct?

Thank you Dean for the Craigslist link. That's interesting and yet makes this potentially even more confusing. Enter the 162! What difference is there between the 162 and 163? Both appear to have the tone-arm support. Does anybody know what the differences are?

This is the first 162 I've seen! 163s are the most common, followed by 161, and then 160. But that would be a logical numerical progression...

I suspect this is very similar to the 163 (of which I've had 2 over the years), but it's hard to tell without additional photos. Maybe this one was geared toward a specific market? I think American Columbia was very disorganized in its phonograph marketing and record-keeping. Baumbach's book (which is largely derived from existing advertising brochures) does have some gaps.

The 161 and 163 seem to be much more common than the 162. I just purchased the 162 shown in the Craigslist posting on this thread. I have read various topics on the forum in the past but I found this particular discussion looking for information on the 162, and was surprised to see the Craigslist posting of my 162! I would like to know more about the 160 series, how the 162 fits in, and the years of manufacture for the different models. Does any one have questions concerning the 162 that I have? The person I bought it from has had it since 1972 and only seldom played records on it, it appears to be original, and while it plays and sounds pretty good as it is, it would benefit from new gaskets. Any tips on where to get parts for these would be appreciated. Interesting thread, I hope it keeps going.
-Ryan

Very interesting, Ryan. I hope you will register here and upload photos of your 162. I suspect no one else has seen one. I believe the Viva-tonal portables were produced from 1927-early '30s. I was just going through photos I've downloaded from eBay (mostly) over the years and came upon a successor to the 163 I had forgotten about, the Viva-tonal 175. One incarnation looked identical to the 163, but there was a "blonde" variation which had an A/C induction motor. I've attached photos for your interest. I suspect this one is vanishingly rare! I wish I had bid on it at the time (about 9 years ago).

Here are some photos of my Columbia Viva-Tonal 162 portable. The close up photos are not as clear as I would like, but these are the best I could get with the camera I was using.

The 162 appears to me to be nearly identical to the 163, but I am only going by photos, I do not have a 163 to compare it with. Bathroom scale says the weight of this 162 is 25 lbs.

This 162 was made in the USA (where I am living and purchased it), however the patent info in the fine print above "MODEL 162" is in Spanish ("MARCA INDUSTRIAL REGISTRADA BAJO NOS..." for example). Is this normal for these portables, or is this a clue as to the marketing of the 162?

Any historical information would be appreciated, as would any advice on tune up/maintenance of these portables as this one has been sitting for a long time (it also plays a little bit too fast).

I really like the 160 by the way, would like to know more about that one, as well as any other of this era of Columbia portables. And very interesting about that "Blonde" 175, wow!

-Ryan

Ryan - sorry I don't have any info to offer on your machine... but very nice when you have the case open, very handsome looking machine!

Thanks for taking the time to share.

Your 162 does look pretty much identical to the two 163s that I once owned. I do remember it was a pain to remove the motor board on the first one, to service the motor (should have left it alone, as I did the second one I owned). The 160 I have now (see pics above) is designed differently, so that it is relatively simple (like an HMV 101 or 102) to remove the motor through a removable center piece within the motor board.

Yes, I have one. I received it from my parents attic after their passing. Along with the phonograph I have many records they used to play on it. Its in working order and looks to be in great shape. I have attached a few pictures of it. I found this forum while trying to find information on it. Thank you ~Lisa~

Came across a 163 on Craigslist.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/atq/1554708072.html

Came across a 161 on Craigslist.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/atq/1630735277.html