The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

estott wrote:That last one isn't so bad- at least it's a real turntable and not some kind of Ipod dock. The guy at least likes vinyl.

I agree. Back in 1970, I found an empty oak Edison C-150 cabinet, and coincidently had no good place for my stereo. For a few years, that cabinet served the purpose, until in 1975 I found an appropriate mechanism and put the cabinet back to its original use. No harm done.

George P.

Kinda reminds me of this gutted player piano that a childhood friend of mine had in his basement that he and I used to mess around on occasionally. It still had the piano bits, but the player mechanism were long gone and it was painted with a rather crappy white that chipped like a mofo. Normally, this wouldn't be too bad, but apparently, when I did a little research on Knabe player pianos, apparently it was once fitted with an Ampico reproducing piano mechanism originally . Last time I was there, they had it fitted with a PianoDisk system to bring it back to its former glory somewhat. Haven't seen the guy in while though.

I wonder how many player-piano collectors cringed at this story

Many player pianos were 'relieved' of their mechanisms when either the bellows or the rubber tubing gave up. They often were called pianola, but that was incorrect. A pianola was that push-up from Aeolian that you put over your normal piano keyboard. They are quite rare now and the 88-key model is even rarer. Friends of mine have one in tip top restored condition. Pedalling it thtough a roll or three is like running a half marathon. At the end you're sweating all over your body and panting as if you've ran up the stairs of the Empire State Bulding. it is dead silent though, not like the later models that had electrical pumps and that could be quite noisy, including the mechanism.
A good pianolist can get surprisingly good results from a roll. Even I who'd never played a pianola before, was able to reasonably perform once T understood the different controls.

On topic: beautiful cabinet. I love the flames in that oak. And somebody has taken very good care of it. Yes, it has been gutted. But it has been loved and can be returned into a gramophone. At least the outside is in perfect condition and hasn't been tampered with.
And oak models are quite rare, I presume. You Americans preferred other veneers, while we Europeans mostly used oak. Those matching doors are stunning. A great machine that will not not be a dissonant in a modern interior.

Kisses from ITALY...













Model and Prices are HORRORFUL!!!

I think the third one down might be genuine, at least in part.

I love the one with the horn pointing straight up. It's a shame they put a piece of crap Ion in that one cabinet instead of a decent turntable.

On e-bay even as we speak. Eye of the beholder and all that.

Is that actually old or new? Kind of looks like decor from the movie Metropolis.
Andreas

The sculpture is new, but it uses old Victor parts.