Never seen anything quite like this before... anyone else?

[Tinkerbell]

I saw this on Ebay, and I thought it was quite different.

I've yet to attend a show like Union, but I am guessing that some of you more learned than myself might have some idea about this phono.

Any idea what it is? Is it legit, a well-made frankenphone, something else entirely?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-1910s-P ... 569wt_1271

[epigramophone]

The machine itself appears genuine, but I doubt that the manufacturer would have considered it cost effective to embellish a relatively low priced portable in this way.

My guess is that the applied decoration was the work of a gifted amateur, but if the machine interests you it would be worth asking the seller whether he/she knows anything of it's history.

Given these reservations I would say that it would be a risky purchase, especially at that price!

[estott]

Very nice- made for the Japanese market with Swiss parts. The painted decoration probably cost very little to produce- probably cost less than a dollar to have it decorated. It was an era when Japan was producing hand painted dishes and paper scrolls that would be shipped over here to sell for small change.

[Tinkerbell]

I have no personal interest purchasing this phonograph, as it's out of my budget right now, but I've never seen anything quite like it before and found it rather fascinating.

By the seller's description of the phonograph, I'm guessing he/she is no more knowledgeable about it than I.

If I was loaded with greenbacks for making whimsical purchases, I might contemplate it... if only for the curiosity of it all.

Thank you for the info!

[ewok]

The words on the reproducer suggest that at least the reproducer might be made in Japan.

[VintageTechnologies]

I have noticed before that the seller is very proud of his stuff. I would not pay that much, even though it is a cute machine. That style of horn is called a Reflex. Several companies made machines with such bowl reflectors, notably Decca and Pathé.

[syncopeter]

It is certainly not a Decca, it looks like a mid 20s Pathé (clone).
It was not unusual to label a reproducer as 'Made in X' when it was actually Swiss made.