Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

CDBPDX · Post by **CDBPDX** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:09 am

Just got a Columbia Grafonola Mignonette turntable but I can't find a similar one. This one has oak finish and swinging doors in front of the horn, not louvers. Doesn't look like there ever were any louvers, either. Also has a recessed turntable and a shallow cover. I suspect this is a later model??

I would apprecoate any info. The spring is busted, but it sounds pretty good when I spin the turntable with my finger.

Phonofreak · Post by **Phonofreak** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:32 am

Actually, you have an early one. Columbia Grafonolas with doors are early. In 1911, Victor started a series of lawsuits because Columbia violated Victor's patents of the volume doors. After 1912, Columbia went to the louvers. Your machine is from about 1911.
Harvey Kravitz

CDBPDX · Post by **CDBPDX** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 8:45 am

Glad to know that. Thanks! This was given to me by a friend who figured it would cost as much to fix it up as it was worth and he didn't want to mess with it. If it's potentially worth a whole lot more, I suppose I should let him know. Any thoughts on it's value?

Phonofreak · Post by **Phonofreak** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 12:33 pm

In the condition that it's in, I would say about $300.00 tops. Columbia machines are just not popular with collectors, like Victor or Edison.
Harvey Kravitz

CDBPDX · Post by **CDBPDX** » Mon Nov 05, 2012 7:50 pm

One more picture. The door to the record storage is a single, not a double. That seems a bit unusual, too.

CDBPDX · Post by **CDBPDX** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:18 pm

Here are some pics of the motor. Seems this has 3 springs. Isn't that a bit ahead of it's time?

estott · Post by **estott** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:23 pm

I think a 3 spring motor would be appropriate. While the case is simple this was not a cheap machine.

CDBPDX · Post by **CDBPDX** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 12:42 am

This has dual brake pads! Never seen that before!

Post by **Lucius1958** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:11 am

CDBPDX wrote:This has dual brake pads! Never seen that before!

Well, since they also serve as governor pads for the speed control, it's not surprising...

CDBPDX · Post by **CDBPDX** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 12:56 am

Finally got this up and running with a little work on the exterior to boot. Watch it go on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C66jszDL_dg

YeeeHaa!

CDB

Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"

Re: Columbia Grafonola "Mignonette"