The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

drh wrote: Does it look like one to you? If so, does the mechanism look "right," or has the hardware been swapped out? That off-center doughnut at the base of the tonearm in particular looks very odd to my eye.

It does look like a Lauzon, but I don't see a decal. The three needle cups on the left side are arranged like my machine along with the two spring operated lid prop rods. The Fletcher tonearm was definitely used on those machines and the one shown (with the doughnut) is typical. The "doughnut" is a weight with three positions - Edison, Pathé and Standard. The weight was rotated to shift the reproducer into the correct position to play various different records. My machine is an apparently late version, which did not come with that Fletcher tonearm. They had apparently decided to use a cheaper tonearm/reproducer by the time mine was made. It was so inferior that I couldn't stand the way it looked and the back of the potmetal reproducer had broken out beyond repair... That's why I changed mine out.

The machine you pictured is interesting because of the carved front columns and the detail around the outside of the lid. Lauzon was a designer, upscale furniture manufacturer in Grand Rapids, Mi in the era when Grand Rapids was a major furniture center. I grew up in Grand Rapids and that was part of the reason for taking my project on. It's hard to tell from the pictures what type of wood it's made of, but mine is walnut. In the picture showing the turntable, it looks like there is a decal or name plate behind the tonearm that is obscured by camera flash...

Curt A wrote:

drh wrote: Does it look like one to you? If so, does the mechanism look "right," or has the hardware been swapped out? That off-center doughnut at the base of the tonearm in particular looks very odd to my eye.

It does look like a Lauzon, but I don't see a decal. The three needle cups on the left side are arranged like my machine along with the two spring operated lid prop rods. The Fletcher tonearm was definitely used on those machines and the one shown (with the doughnut) is typical. The "doughnut" is a weight with three positions - Edison, Pathé and Standard. The weight was rotated to shift the reproducer into the correct position to play various different records. My machine is an apparently late version, which did not come with that Fletcher tonearm. They had apparently decided to use a cheaper tonearm/reproducer by the time mine was made. It was so inferior that I couldn't stand the way it looked and the back of the potmetal reproducer had broken out beyond repair... That's why I changed mine out.

The machine you pictured is interesting because of the carved front columns and the detail around the outside of the lid. Lauzon was a designer, upscale furniture manufacturer in Grand Rapids, Mi in the era when Grand Rapids was a major furniture center. I grew up in Grand Rapids and that was part of the reason for taking my project on. It's hard to tell from the pictures what type of wood it's made of, but mine is walnut. In the picture showing the turntable, it looks like there is a decal or name plate behind the tonearm that is obscured by camera flash...

Thanks for all the good info! I was not familiar with Fletcher arms. If the weight has an "Edison" position label on it, that might explain why the listing bills it as an "Edison phonograph." According to the sketchy text, that tag reads "Jenkins Arcade, Pittsburgh, PA." No decal is in evidence. Here's another photo from the listing that shows the inside of the lid better.

Off-brand or no, I can't tell you how tempted I've been to give the thing a home. The cabinet is spectacular, as is yours. I'd say you aren't kiddin' that Lauzon was a high-end cabinet maker! Can you imagine what something at that level would cost today, if you could even find it? If only I had (a) money (beautiful as that cabinet may be, $225 strikes me as a little high), (b) space, (c) time to restore it, and (d) no "stay at home except for essential trips" order....

Prices are always negotiable... so, $225 might be in reality $150. I dickered on mine and since the spring was broken, the antique store settled for $100. The trim on that cabinet looks great and the legs are separate columns.

I have one of those tone arms available if someone can use it.
Ken Brekke

Your Lauzon is gorgeous! Congratulations, I hope you enjoy it for many, many years.

Best,
Fran

drh wrote:Beautiful machine, and I think it solves a mystery. This listing has been up on the local Craigslist for some weeks now, billed as an Edison phonograph, going nowhere at $225, and I kept wondering what it was--definitely not an Edison as advertised, although not entirely unlike one of the fancy Edison cabinets. Looking at yours, I'm wondering if it might well be another Lauzon, a name about which I know nothing beyond what's in your posting. Does it look like one to you? If so, does the mechanism look "right," or has the hardware been swapped out? That off-center doughnut at the base of the tonearm in particular looks very odd to my eye.

Yes, this machine looks familiar to me, too - I saw it on craiglist. The price is just a tad high for my taste and I am out of room anyway But, it sure is tempting....

Phono-Phan wrote:I have one of those tone arms available if someone can use it.
Ken Brekke

Here is the post of this unique tone arm.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=41206&hilit=tone+arm

It looks fantastic Curt! I'm so glad you were able to get it running, I hope you can find a matching gold Fletcher arm.

drh wrote:Beautiful machine, and I think it solves a mystery. This listing has been up on the local Craigslist for some weeks now, billed as an Edison phonograph, going nowhere at $225, and I kept wondering what it was--definitely not an Edison as advertised, although not entirely unlike one of the fancy Edison cabinets. Looking at yours, I'm wondering if it might well be another Lauzon, a name about which I know nothing beyond what's in your posting. Does it look like one to you? If so, does the mechanism look "right," or has the hardware been swapped out? That off-center doughnut at the base of the tonearm in particular looks very odd to my eye.

drh, the cabinet looks like it was definitely made by the Michigan phonograph company.(https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-S ... e-0096.pdf)

"It looks fantastic Curt! I'm so glad you were able to get it running, I hope you can find a matching gold Fletcher arm."

Thanks, Benjamin... I have actually obtained a weighted Fletcher arm from Ken Brekke. The only real problem is that those weighted arms came in two lengths - 8 ½" and 9 ½". The one I have is the 8 ½" tonearm and I really need the 9 ½" one. However, I also have another Fletcher arm that is the correct length, but a little different design and it's made of cast brass and nickel plated. It was purchased several years ago from someone on eBay who for some reason did not have the original cabinet mounting base. I was able to get a brass base from Ken Brekke that was the correct size and I was able to make it work together. I had to make a new hole with a hole saw to mount the base since it was 2 ½" wide and the original hole was just over 2". I cut it this morning and it fits perfectly. The weighted Fletcher arm would have required a 3 ¼" hole and I was afraid that cutting that size might not match up with the horn top. I'll post pictures of the new setup as soon as I get everything back together. I have the original Fletcher reproducer which I just rebuilt and I also have an HMV 5B reproducer which I was able to fit to the tonearm.

OMG. What a gorgeous machine. The education is appreciated too.


-Travis