The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi,

I've been reading this forum off and on for about a year and just registered, but I've never owned a phonograph before. I spend most of my time focusing on modern electric pickups and systems but I really want to get a phonograph especially for common and poor condition discs.

I just found an opportunity to buy this Columbia machine stated in excellent working condition for $150. Can anyone tell me what year and model this is and if it's a good buy?

thanks,
Nick

78 Archivist wrote:Hi,

I've been reading this forum off and on for about a year and just registered, but I've never owned a phonograph before. I spend most of my time focusing on modern electric pickups and systems but I really want to get a phonograph especially for common and poor condition discs.

I just found an opportunity to buy this Columbia machine stated in excellent working condition for $150. Can anyone tell me what year and model this is and if it's a good buy?

thanks,
Nick

Here is a thread that was just started and should help you with the info on your machine. As to if it was a good buy......if you bought it and are happy....then, I guess it was... . Congrats and welcome to our forum.http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=14520

Hi Nick and welcome.

We all started somewhere in this hobby/or addiction as many refer to it. The cabinet looks to be in great shape so as long as the mechanism works correctly, I would think it's a steal for your first machine. Darn near looks to be walnut but most likely brown mahogany.

Make sure to play it before you make the purchase and see if the speed control works. If the reproducer has never been rebuilt, it may be low on volume or even worse vibrate excessively distorting the sound. These can be rebuit quite resonably so if you like it, get it.

Also keep plenty of sharp needles on hand so they can rake there way through the grooves...
Clean up those records and play them, if they still sound like crap use them for target practice... I've seen boxes of 78 records left at a few auctions because no one likes to carry around tonage.. LOL

It's a continuous education we have and this Forum will be your professor..
Alway plenty of members offering their input.
Ask and you shall receive.

Gary Blizzard

I was wondering what that knob in front of the crank was, didn't know there was variable speed control on any gramophone.

It is mahogany and the seller originally had it listed for $325 but with the adjustment in price I might have to make the six hour round trip drive to buy it. If it were less than an hour away I would've already bought it. The brass hinges look a little too shiny to be original though?

I may also hold out and wait for a 'top of the line' machine on eBay and never worry about upgrading.

Thanks for the links and info.

The round knob in front of the crank should turn freely, and would open and close the louvre flaps in front to increase and decrease the volume. Sometimes these louvres get stuck so dont force the knob to turn. I have found gently pushing in on the louvres and moving them back and forth while turning the knob gets them moving again.

For those of you who've heard this machine, how would you rate the quality of the reproducer compared to the higher quality ones?

I would definately think twice about driving 6 hours each way for this machine. That puts the price too high I feel. Watch Craigs list in your local area and you should find something comparable in the same price range right around your neighborhood.

Just my take on it.

Blizz

This is my 'local' craigslist, it's three hours one-way, six hours round trip. The closest major city is five hours away, ten hours round trip but probably lot more options there, good idea to look there.

If this is going to be your only machine you might note that these Clolumbia models are rather hard on records, as they have atrocious needle point alignment. This is a nice example of an early 'Twenties machine, but it is not the sort of thing that gets most collectors excited. I certainly would hesitate to drive six hours to pick one of these up. A nice small Victor Orthophonic or Columbia Viva-Tonal machine would be a better starter, as their reproduction is much better and they impose less wear on records. The smaller Orthophonics are both plentiful and inexpensive.

That's the kind of advice I'm looking for thanks. I already have six vintage electronic turntables so I never want to get more than two acoustic machines to prevent becoming a hoarder collector.