The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Ad says it is a Clumber, made in England.
Anyone know what mechanicals were used in the floor model Clumbers?
Nice to know that "the needle appears to be in good condition".
The black lacquer finish does make this one stand out.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/msg/4339974597.html

It's certainly a Garrard turntable and motor, but which one, I can't tell offhand.

Clumber machines were, on the whole, pretty mediochre machines. The cabinets relied heavily on plywood, with very heavy varnish stain, or, as in this case, black lacquer, to hide the obvious grain. Like many other manufacturers in the twenties and thirties, they bought in the motors and other hardware. They are not often seen here in England, mainly, I suspect, because they were not very popular in the first place. I had a similar machine in oak finish some years ago, and found it to be very flimsy. It sounded just about ok, but certainly nothing special.

Chinese and Japanese lacquer finishes enjoyed a brief revival in the mid-1920's. Gramophone cabinets in these finishes were usually to special order only, and cost substantialy more than the standard oak and mahogany versions.

Sometimes the cabinet maker went the extra mile and incorporated oriental influences into the woodwork, as on the lid of my Fullotone :