Interesting Reproducer - Can you identify?

[Jerry B.]

Good phono friend, Harvey Kravitz, was here for a visit and brought a few pieces that need identification. Can anyone identify this reproducer? Thanks, Jerry Blais

[De Soto Frank]

Long-throat Columbia ?

[soundgen]

Long-throat Columbia ?

Yes but clone for Columbia made machine for other companies !

[alang]

I don't know. If it was a regular Columbia analyzing reproducer, branded or unbranded, Harvey would be the first to identify it. This one looks different. The back is not flat and the long throat has grooves in it. Of course, the needle bar and how it is connected to the body is quite a bit different from the clamping needle bar on Columbia made reproducers. Could this be an experimental reproducer, like an in between the analyzing reproducer and later Grafonola reproducers? But again, the way the needle bar is connected seems totally different from other Columbia reproducers. Interesting...
Andreas

[Phonofreak]

I know for sure that this is not a Columbia reproducer. The housing is very thin compared to Columbia or Victor. The needle bar is connected with an "L" shaped piece of spring steel, similar to a Berliner or an early Zonophone. The housing is one piece with a gasket, mica, gasket, and wax. The needle bar does not use a screw to secure it to the mica. It is the same arrangement like a Berliner reproducer. I rebuilt this reproducer. The mica was an odd size, so I had to carefully trim a mica to fit. I cheated a little bit when I secured the needle bar to the mica. I used a tiny drop of 5 min. epoxy dyed black to look like wax, but a stronger hold. It actually sounds very good. Compared to the Exhibition and Analyzing reproducers, it is quite primitive. It was very interesting how I got this reproducer on ebay. I bought it at opening bid and got it cheap. It looked so unusual, I just had to have this. Around the same time, I bought a Zonophone Home at the CAPS show. It was all original except for the crank. It came with a long throat Exhibition reproducer. After I got and rebuilt the unidentified reproducer, I had it on my Zonophone. I eventually got lucky with an original Concert V for my Zonophone, but that's another story. Now the unidentifed reproducer is in a display. Anyway, thanks to all for all who responded.
Harvey Kravitz