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Re: Tournaphone

Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 6:06 am
by Steve
Does anyone know if the machine below is a Murdoch machine or a Leipzig based Symphonium product?

The soundbox is definitely Symphonium but due to the unorthodox angle of the tonearm I'm tempted to believe this pre-WW1 portable might have had a much smaller soundbox fitted originally?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193892453451

PS - scrub my question over the tonearm as I note the arm support is also elevated to match so it must be correct. If anything there might be something missing to elevate the elbow section?

Re: Tournaphone

Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:44 am
by Oedipus
Looks all original to me - typical of the many portables made from 1909 -1912. The convertible tone-arm is less common on portables, but frequently found on Murdoch's other Tournaphones -- which were usually made by Symphonion, also sold by the New Polyphon Supply Company as Symphony or Symphonista. Their portable, the Symphony Colonial, was very similar, but with a lateral-cut only tone-arm.

But if such portables are worth £525, I need to up my insurance!

Re: Tournaphone

Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:12 am
by gramophoneshane
A couple px

Re: Tournaphone

Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 3:41 pm
by Steve
Oedipus wrote: Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:44 am Looks all original to me - typical of the many portables made from 1909 -1912. The convertible tone-arm is less common on portables, but frequently found on Murdoch's other Tournaphones -- which were usually made by Symphonion, also sold by the New Polyphon Supply Company as Symphony or Symphonista. Their portable, the Symphony Colonial, was very similar, but with a lateral-cut only tone-arm.

But if such portables are worth £525, I need to up my insurance!
Thank you for your valued opinion. I had been looking at it scratching my head for a while but you've confirmed my hopes and thoughts.

I agree the asking price was a bit steep (it was originally listed at £650) but at least the seller in this instance was open to offers and actively inviting them. I think some people are slightly confused by how the 'Best Offer' system actually works. I've had experience of this myself as an occasional seller on Ebay.

With that said I have now bought this Tournaphone for approximately one third of the asking price!