The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

During the dark days of Covid lockdowns I bought several cheap project portables just to keep myself occupied.
Since then they have all found good homes, and I still find it hard to resist a gramophone in distress.
There is great satisfaction in restoring and then hearing a gramophone which has been silent for decades.

It's always interesting trying to save a gramophone, great work, and a nice gramophone.
As long as it makes oneself and the gramophone happy, one is on the right track.

Thank you so very much everyone for your thoughts about this.

Each and every reply is so very relevant to the way that I feel about gramophones but I could never have expressed my thoughts and feelings as eloquently as you all have.

I think I am going to print off this thread and frame it as a reminder of what gramophone collecting really means to me ....... and it seems to so many others on here.

Thank you once again.

There are, of course two meanings to the word "cheap". One applies to the bargain that you manage to get on a quality, named machine in good condition, and the other applies to poorly made, often (but not always!) the many "off-brand" ones we see. Take, for instance, the "Crescendo" portable, made by Decca, but never advertised in their promotional publications, I believe they were made to be exchanged for the coupons given away in cigarette packets and were the very epitome of "cheap!"
I have also seen many examples of the well known Gilbert cabinet machines. Some look very luxurious, but close examination has shown the cabinets to be made by nailing, yes NAILING the plywood sided into the corner uprights, and then covering the whole thing in thick dark varnish. I stress that this does not apply to all Gilbert machines, but certainly a good proportion. Further examples of "cheap" as regards manufacturing must surely include the last HMV and Columbia portables, so obviously made down to a price.
Barry

poodling around wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:42 am
Anyway, here is one I purchased for around £ 30 - and I think it is great fun and sounds okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnI3u4J8nrA

Nice. Looks like a fun project.

poodling around wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:42 am
Are cheap gramophones worth buying ?

Well, I think so !

With the possible exception of my HMV 102c, for which I paid $200 CDN, all my gramophones have been cheap or inexpensive. I am mostly a music enthusiast, and talking machines just sort of tagged along as crimes of opportunity presented themselves. So for me, yes, cheap/inexpensive gramophones are worth buying with some exceptions.

Here is a random selection of cheap/inexpensive gramophones that are currently available near me. Which are worth the price? Which are not?

A: $50 US, $67.82 CDN, 46.18 EUR, 39.58 GBP

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/for/ ... 87700.html

B: $100 CDN, $73.72, 68.09 EUR, 58.36 GBP

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds/at ... 42755.html

C: $90 CDN, $66.35 US, 61.28 EUR, 52.52 GBP

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/pml/at ... 62938.html

Phono48 wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2023 9:26 am I have also seen many examples of the well known Gilbert cabinet machines. Some look very luxurious, but close examination has shown the cabinets to be made by nailing, yes NAILING the plywood sided into the corner uprights, and then covering the whole thing in thick dark varnish. I stress that this does not apply to all Gilbert machines, but certainly a good proportion. Further examples of "cheap" as regards manufacturing must surely include the last HMV and Columbia portables, so obviously made down to a price.
Barry

Were I to be offered any of the above machines at a ridiculously low price, to me they would not be cheap, they would just be wasted money, as I would get no pleasure at all from them. So to answer the original question, if they are obviously made down to a price and have little to recommend them, no they are not worth buying. I'm waiting to be offered a brown HMV 102 in good condition for twenty quid. Now that would indeed be "cheap"!

Barry

Some of my most cherished machines have been what others would call "derelict." Even if the machines themselves cannot be brought back, they are often an invaluable source of parts.

Enjoy!

gramophone-georg wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 3:21 pm

poodling around wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:01 pm

JerryVan wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 11:53 am When I began collecting, I bought cheap gramophones. I must admit, the hobby was more fun in those days, so I understand your enthusiasm for your new find.

Interesting.

I suppose that I am happy with my gramophone collection and am finding it fun to explore what there is on the cheap side.

And that is ALL that matters. Period.

Exactly what I was trying to say, but I probably didn't state it very well.

Lah Ca wrote: Fri Aug 25, 2023 10:07 am

poodling around wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:42 am
Anyway, here is one I purchased for around £ 30 - and I think it is great fun and sounds okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnI3u4J8nrA

Nice. Looks like a fun project.

poodling around wrote: Thu Aug 24, 2023 10:42 am
Are cheap gramophones worth buying ?

Well, I think so !

With the possible exception of my HMV 102c, for which I paid $200 CDN, all my gramophones have been cheap or inexpensive. I am mostly a music enthusiast, and talking machines just sort of tagged along as crimes of opportunity presented themselves. So for me, yes, cheap/inexpensive gramophones are worth buying with some exceptions.

Here is a random selection of cheap/inexpensive gramophones that are currently available near me. Which are worth the price? Which are not?

A: $50 US, $67.82 CDN, 46.18 EUR, 39.58 GBP

https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/for/ ... 87700.html

B: $100 CDN, $73.72, 68.09 EUR, 58.36 GBP

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/rds/at ... 42755.html

C: $90 CDN, $66.35 US, 61.28 EUR, 52.52 GBP

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/pml/at ... 62938.html

Given the choice of one of these three I think that I would choose the Martinet. It seems complete, £39.58 is cheap (to me), I guess it is an early machine ?, it works, I like the blue cloth, the seller seems to have valued it and there are free records ! Also, in the last photo the seller seems to have many bottles of wine displayed so if you are not driving when collecting it there may be a free drink on offer (if you drink alcohol).

I agree that if you have the space, the Martinet is the best buy and appears to be able to play lateral and vertical cut records.
The Fullotone is a British made machine which used bought in mechanical components. I have one in black Chinoiserie finish.
The Columbia is an incomplete basket case.