The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I thought I'd add a few pictures of my Phrynis horn machine as these do not turn up often and appear to be highly prized on the European continent for their asymmetrical horns with unique "combed" paintwork. This specimen is certainly not one of the best out there but after spending many hours cleaning the glue-like nicotine off the horn (which actually made me believe the horn was originally painted brown on the outside!), hand-polishing the metalwork and repairing the cabinet, I thought it was worthy of adding here.

The motor and sound-box were made especially for this machine and are not standard bought-in Swiss parts. It actually plays extremely well now that I have re-built the sound-box. It came to me with THREE pieces of perspex poorly superglued together so that there was a 3mm gap between 2 of the layers! Half a bolt sat in the middle and all of this in place of an original mica. To think this was used in a French hotel and pleased the patrons! The mind boggles. Were they all deaf?

I wish they could hear it now. The sound-box has a unique suspension of its stylus bar and has no right to work as well as it actually does. But does anyone know what specific model this is and what the year of manufacture might be?

What a super item Steve and well done for bringing it up to proper working order---a real credit to you. The horn is particularly wonderful and looks as though it is seeking increased photosynthesis at greater altitude ! Any chance of a video of it playing ?

An interesting post. I did not know that these existed, and the horn does have a quirky charm. I like it.

Clay

This is a beautiful machine Steve. Thanks for sharing.

Andreas

Thank you for the kind comments. A few examples of these machines are actually pictured in several of the excellent Fabrizio & Paul books though finding an actual machine, let alone one for sale is not as easy as one might expect. This was one of my "have a punt" purchases as we'd been looking for such a machine for quite a while without luck and none of the continental dealers I contacted had got one either. So this was bought unseen - a real lottery these days. We do like it and it plays very well so it worked out alright this time.

I'll also consider the video idea, Graham. Thanks for the encouragement!

Steve wrote:Thank you for the kind comments. A few examples of these machines are actually pictured in several of the excellent Fabrizio & Paul books though finding an actual machine, let alone one for sale is not as easy as one might expect. This was one of my "have a punt" purchases as we'd been looking for such a machine for quite a while without luck and none of the continental dealers I contacted had got one either. So this was bought unseen - a real lottery these days. We do like it and it plays very well so it worked out alright this time.

I'll also consider the video idea, Graham. Thanks for the encouragement!

Encouragement from me too Steve. I'd love to see and hear this beautiful and exotic creature working, albiet via ThouCylinder!

I don't know the model number but I think it should be from around 1915 and will try to get more info.
Jeff

I love that machine and horn... just a little on the funky side, which I like. You won't see these in many other collections. This horn is artistically very pleasing and unusual, kind of like the European machine that has a tuba looking horn... I just re-looked at your pics and noticed that the tonearm and brake are interesting as well.

This horn is artistically very pleasing and unusual, kind of like the European machine that has a tuba looking horn

Are you referring to a machine similar to the one pictured below? If so, that is also one of my collection!

Or you might have meant one of these? This is also one of my expanding "Euro collection" items.