The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

AZ* wrote:The one on page 215 of the F&P Compendium (1st ed) is called an Orpheus from Newark, NJ.

I saw one of these types of machines (not sure what brand) at the Union show a few years ago. It was actually kind of neat.

Thanks- this machine is an Orpheus too:

Here's the Orpheus shown in the Compendium. This one carries a decal instead of a metal plate. Sorry about the lack of image clarity in the scan. This often happens when scanning half-tones, but hopefully you can make out the decal in the foreground corner.

I agree with GShane that machines such as these are really interesting, as opposed to a lineup of Victors I through VI. The various ways designers avoided patents while driving down the price are a study in ingenuity.

George P.

I see it has a different arm from the one on Ebay, but I suspect the maker bought from what ever supplier had a good price.

Please stop extolling the virtues of these off-brand machines, you'll drive the prices up!

I won't go crazy- I'm not bidding high.

My bid has just been cancelled- the machine is "no longer available".


AND it's immediately been relisted at the same price but starting a 6 day auction again.

My guess is that they thought this was getting too close to the end with only one bidder so far and they decided to restart and try this again.

I've bid the minimum but the seller has some really bad feedback.


Last edit: Seller says they had to relist due to a "Spelling Error". I guess it was the name of the phonograph which they had as "orphieus" instead of "Orpheus". That is still a crap reason.

EBay strikes again. Another foul ball coming from EBay and a dis-honest seller. Ending an auction that already has a bidder is B.S. big time estott. The only way that is allowed is if the seller put a reserve price on the item and it failed to meet that reserve. You should call, NOT EMAIL, EBay and file a verbal complaint about that issue and against that seller. As far as I know, even if something is miss-spelled, AND THERE IS A BIDDER BIDDING ON IT, you cannot end a listing unless there is an un-met reserve price. (which there wasn't as i too was watching this) Brian Keith

Oh well, I've been outbid on this anyhow and I won't be raising the bid- too much crap going on. I am not going to call Ebay...I have no desire to be on hold for an indefinite period of time to inform them about a situation they have no interest in.