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Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 1:21 pm
by snallast
Just sharing a few pictures of a gramophone that was once mine... I bought it in Malaga about 1964 from a daughter and mother living in a huge old flat that had somehow survived the civil war, full of antiques. From time to time they sold things off to get by. The man who brought me had tried to buy this machine for years but it was a no-no until I turned up (age 11) and it probably amused them and they sold it to me (I happily staggered home with it on the bus and walking - it was extremely heavy).
They said it had won a first prize at an expo in Sevilla. This must have been the 1929 World Expo of "the Americas", a huge thing (the next was the 1992 world expo).
It is made in the mudejar style of the Alhambra Palace of Granada, completely silver-coated, the plate at the bottom imitating water is mother-of-pearl. It played very well, had a Thorens motor. Possibly a one-of-a-kind gramophone or at least part of a very limited production.
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:52 pm
by phonohound
This gramophone is incredible. Any idea where it resides today? I have never seen anything like this.
Thank you for sharing.
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 3:35 pm
by snallast
well I sold it a long time ago - like 1974 or so - but I don't doubt that it could be tracked down eventually if it was a really serious quest... another matter is if the present owner would be willing to part with it!
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 5:17 pm
by Jerry B.
It's a thrill just to see your photo. Thanks, Jerry Blais
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:05 pm
by yankmycrank
Tone arm looks as though it could be a Columbia. Incredible machine!
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:20 pm
by gramophone78
yankmycrank wrote:Tone arm looks as though it could be a Columbia. Incredible machine!
Actually, given the year (1928). The tone arm and reflex horn look more like a Decca product used in their portanles of the day. I would bet the same motor was used.
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 8:45 pm
by estott
It looks like the arm of a Decca, but with an additional fitting to play vertical cut discs.
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 4:12 am
by snallast
yes the idea of the acoustic reflect-bowl is that of Decca - I still have one of those "trench" gramophones but this bowl was custom made, very thick silver-coated brass, the system of the bowl as a reflector I´ve seen in several brands, amongst others a "Toledo" here in Spain (always picnic-gramophones, fold-up) the motor was Thorens, can´t remember the soundbox but it was for regular 78´s
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Wed May 15, 2013 4:20 am
by Norfolkguy
Really beautiful! How in the world did you lift that beast onto a bus? Many thanks for sharing another amazing machine!
Re: Rare spanish silver temple gramophone 1928
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 2:01 pm
by fmblizz
This ornate plated phono looks very similar to music boxes produced by Fred Zimbalist.
The cases were produced over in India and sent here where Zimbalist used Thoren motors and other 2nd & 3rd party pieces to complete the machines.
Here is a link to some of his works.
http://www.google.com/search?q=fred+zim ... 24&bih=570
Not sure about the time frame but I think they were mostly produced in the 60's & 70's.
I'm probably way off base but this does look strikingly similar.
fmblizz