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Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:36 am
by Steve
Yes it is attractive. The machine I purchased has a plain diaphragm but it does have the US Stars 'N' Stripes banner with the French and Swiss flags adorning the front of the case.
Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:53 am
by Tinkerbell
Steve wrote:Yes it is attractive. The machine I purchased has a plain diaphragm but it does have the US Stars 'N' Stripes banner with the French and Swiss flags adorning the front of the case.
How ironic... I just saw one similar to what you describe this morning on YouTube, but it appears to have a Phrynis reproducer (with simple graphics) for playing Pathé records.
Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:24 am
by phonodesbois
For your information, starting 1909, Phrynis reproducers were also sold with an adaptator ("Salva-coude") to play vertical records on most hillandale phonographs.
Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:43 am
by Tinkerbell
phonodesbois wrote:For your information, starting 1909, Phrynis reproducers were also sold with an adaptator ("Salva-coude") to play vertical records on most hillandale phonographs.
Thanks for the info!

Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:56 am
by Steve
Yes, thanks for that information! Do you happen to know how the "coude" from the soundbox should attach to the tone-arm? Do they just slip in? If so, what is to stop the end being rotated 360 degrees? I note there is a small hole in the top of the arm tube on the example I purchased. This does not match up to anything else BUT there also appears to be a small slot (probably amateur fabrication) in the end of the "coude" from the soundbox where it should slip into the arm? As this slot is "upside down" when the soundbox is in the correct playing position I am slightly puzzled ie. it isn't doing anything and it is hidden within the arm!
Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 2:31 pm
by phonodesbois
Your adapter should be different of the Salva one; as an image is always better than a thousand words, I made 2 new pictures; the first one shows how the elbow is attached to the tone arm (with a butterfly like screw) and the second one shows the 2 positions the reproducer can take with a slot on the elbow side and a screw on the reproducer. Hope it will help! (The third pic is a scan of a 1910 ad for the Salva adapter).
Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:15 pm
by Steve
To be honest I'm confused! The second batch of photos shows an identical set-up to the first and I can't see how that configuration can play vertical discs, being as it is a "standard" lateral setup? Also, the coude (elbow) attached to my soundbox has no butterfly screw on it. It is a plain unadorned 90 degree bend and simply slides into the tone-arm with nothing apparently to secure it in place. Is there a part missing? Is the tiny hole in the top of the tone-arm near to the end an original one? I wonder. I think the slot in the end of the coude (where it goes into the arm) on the bottom must be an amateur revision - for what is anyone's guess? It isn't seen when the coude is in place anyway.
Re: Phrynis phonograph
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 7:36 pm
by STARR-OLA
excellent garage sale item....unbeleivable!