The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I found this interesting machine in Missouri last week and it followed me home! It plays well, but I can't find any info on it. The decal on the front says "ENGLAND Manufactured by N.S. Company". It has a very interesting horn arrangement. It also has 2 holes in the back; anyone know what was mounted there? Any information regarding this machine is appreciated. Roy

im afraid to say, i dont think it is original.
the base looks very much like a machine with a back bracket and a external horn, the horn part is a strange one that is original, i cant recall the company that made it, the soundbox is a columbia no.5, not original to this

This machine appears to have a Columbia BI cabinet, a European motor, a NIRONA arm and resonator, and some, much later reproducer. Some more detailed photos, particualrly of the motor and the reproducer would give us much more information.

Uncle Vanya wrote:This machine appears to have a Columbia BI cabinet, a European motor, a NIRONA arm and resonator, and some, much later reproducer. Some more detailed photos, particualrly of the motor and the reproducer would give us much more information.

columbia BI
nirona gramophone

I don't know how one could determine that it has a 'European motor', since there are no photos of the motor...

The case is certainly similar to a BI; there may have been variations in the model of which I am not aware (having only my own machine for comparison: there seem to be some slight differences).

As for the horn / tone arm: I'm not entirely sure it's a Nirona - I seem to recall another after-market attachment of this type - it may be elsewhere in the forum.

But essentially, what you have there is a Frankenphone........

Bill

From the appearance of the turntable and the speed control. Columbia used a similar control on some of its late production low-priced machines, but the basic design of this control was adapted from an European "pillar and plate" unit.

Perhaps The British affiliate used these cheap motors on machines as elaborate as the Sterling, but if so I've never seen nor heard of it.

Here are some pics of the motor and workings.

Obviously the horn/tonearm contraption does not belong to this machine, but the motor seems to be original. No extra holes etc. So just the case and motor could be a Columbia style client machine I guess. The horn/tonearm thingy doesn't look like it came from a small Nirona portable phongraph, it look's more substantial like from some kind of tabletop machine. Did Nirona make tabletops as well?
Interesting...
Andreas

alang wrote: Did Nirona make tabletops as well?
Interesting...
Andreas

yes they did