The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

epigramophone wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 5:43 am That seems to me to be a rather clumsy arrangement. Is that vast slot boxed in under the motor board, or is it open allowing dust and goodness knows what else to get into the space occupied by the horn and motor?

No, the slot is closed at the back, with just the hole for the shaft of the handle to pass through. When the handle is folded and pressed in, it lies just below the front of the case, so there is nothing sticking out. Far from being clumsy, it's a neat way of both storing the handle and preventing it's possible loss.
Barry

Here's the pictures of the handle in it's three positions for storage, plus some of the Parlophone "Cantorette" machine.

Barry

The arrangement on your machine is much neater than the eBay example, which I still think looks like an unfinished afterthought.

Very nice machine, Barry. I think you've shown me that in person? I tend to agree with Roger that the metal trim around the aperture on your machine does make it look a little more finished.

epigramophone wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 2:45 pm The arrangement on your machine is much neater than the eBay example, which I still think looks like an unfinished afterthought.

There is certainly something amiss with the handle on the eBay machine. Compared to mine, there seems to be vital parts missing, so that it could never fold and retract. The principle remains the same, though. I wonder if that rectangular slot originally had a metal surround, but it would have been an awkward thing to make, so possibly not......
Barry

Steve wrote: Fri May 26, 2023 3:40 pm Very nice machine, Barry. I think you've shown me that in person?

Yes I have, Steve, but you saw so many machines on that day, it's not surprising you can't remember them all in detail!
Barry