The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just thought some of you would be interested. This machine was purchased 86 years ago today for Christmas by Andrea Lombardo from Colorado Springs Music Co. Does anybody have any info on the Colorado Springs Music Co? I have found info on Mr. Lombardo and even a photo of the house they lived in in 27 but nothing on the store.

Wow. That 9-25 is a show piece.

Quite a show piece. Just think: my house, such as it is, was sold for $3400 when new in 1907. It was prolly worth about the same in 1927, when The Lombardos shelled-out a small fortune for this chunk of technology.

Simply stunning.

In the 1930 census, my uncle is listed as a messenger earning $1000 per year. That makes the $1150 price almost beyond comprehension!

If I owned that 9-25, I'd quit my job and play records all day.
That machine takes your breath away.
Gene

A really beautiful machine! Does it all work?

Clay

Beautiful Machine!!! What a great Christmas present. I am surprised it was sold for the full retail price of $1150.00. A huge sum of money but also a very hefty profit for the Victor dealer.

Everything does work on it. I have no idea how many hours it took to bring it back to life. Everything on the inside was covered in a layer of wax I never could figure how it got in there. The machine was completely disassembled stripped and new pieces carved for missing parts on the feet. I also had to disassemble and replace all the amp wiring. About a month after it was finished I turned it on and no sound when I looked inside the 210 tube was white hot. I had to replace a resistor and capacitor. The machine has played great for the last 4 years. It's amazing how rugged and dependable these machines are after almost 90 years. Too bad the electronic manufactures have no pride in their products today.

The wax on everything is interesting. My Radiola 17 was nicely restored by somebody who loved REALLY stinky cigars, so everything was coated with smelly tobacco residue. Many scrubbings with Murphy's Oil Soap finally cured that situation.


It was sorta weird to fire it up and have the spirit of another collector in the room ....