The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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.

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

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?

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

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

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

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

This has dual brake pads! Never seen that before!

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...

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