The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

briankeith wrote:gramophoneshane - I bought the Mag-Ni-Phone totally missing the tonearm and reproducer. I found only this blurry photo.

Well that's certainly an unusual tonearm, and one I've never come across before. I guess it's safe to say these were unique to this particular brand of machine.
It doesn't appear to have any sort of tapper, although it may have a tappered or stepped bore. I dont suppose it would be terribly hard to reproduce, at least cosmetically, although judging by the 2 pictures, they could play both lateral & vertical cut records, so getting the swivel section of the arm right might be a bit tricky without a physical example to copy from.
I wonder if there's any patent info & drawings available through google patents?
Of course an original would be far better, but at least a repro would make the machine usable & cosmetically complete until an original turns up. On the positive side, the tonearm doesn't appear to be pot metal, so there's probably a couple floating around somewhere just waiting to be found. The down side is that I doubt any other generic arm could be fitted to the machine & work as it should. Then again that mightn't be a bad thing because with a generic tonearm it'd be just another generic machine.

It's certainly nice to know there are collectors left that have respect for humble off-brand machines, and would rather patiently wait for parts to surface rather than part them out or turn them into frankenphones to make a quick buck.
I wish you the best of luck in your search for a tonearm & hope one finds it's way to you soon.

Thanks gramophoneshane. I NEVER cannibalize any of my off-brand machines which are actually the "heart" of my collection. It took me eight years to complete my Rex so I am never ever in a hurry. Parts sometimes have to be made, as where Edison, Columbia , and Victor parts are always easy (most times) to find at shows or on the internet, EBay, etc. Off-brands are a big challenge, maybe with the exception of the United Talking Machine "large spindle" Columbia-made models which too are some of my favorite machines. Small and easy to display, with nice Oak cabinets as well.......

briankeith wrote:The unusual grille work.

I love this!

I love that machine Tinkerbell - too bad it's way up in Canada, just too far to drive for a off-brand I would love to own. By the way I bit the bullet and paid top dollar for this unusual table top machine. I know I paid way way too much for it.

Here is the photo, sorry. We all seen it before. I love the fake woodgrain metal drum.

Congratulations, that is a very nice and interesting machine I think. I had one of these reproducers and thought it sounded very good. Once you open it, please share pictures of the horn design etc.
Thanks
Andreas

briankeith wrote:Here is the photo, sorry. We all seen it before. I love the fake woodgrain metal drum.

What a fun machine to own, and the fake wood grain makes it all the more quirky and special!

My Mag-Ni-Phone has that same set up. Top and bottom are nicely finished wood and the center is all metal painted to look like real wood - and it really does look like real wood. Charles Shonk specialized in making litho beer and tips trays.

I too have a soft spot for these off-brands. Recently sold an upright (name escapes me). It was completely encased in alligator vinyl.

Still on the subject of off-brands - how many machines did Columbia manufacture with other brand labels? I have a Harmony machine and a Symphony machine (one is marked United Talking Machine Co. Chicago) that I was told were actually made by Columbia but both used unusual size spindles (two differnet sizes) to go along with their own branded records. I always wondered if Victor or Edison did this or was it just Columbia?