The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Never seen anything like this before......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Phonograph-Vi ... 1215707837

I don't think it's anything to do with gramophones. Ok, there's a pointed thing that looks like a gramophone needle, but that doesn't mean anything. Looks to me more like some sort of woodworking attachment to scribe circles?

Barry

Phono48 wrote:I don't think it's anything to do with gramophones. Ok, there's a pointed thing that looks like a gramophone needle, but that doesn't mean anything. Looks to me more like some sort of woodworking attachment to scribe circles?

Barry

I'm with you. There's no way to quickly change the "needle," nor would it be in proper position to play a lateral-cut disc.

George P.

Thankyou both. As I thought, this looks like another case of an eBay seller with a vivid imagination.

Phono48 wrote:I don't think it's anything to do with gramophones. Ok, there's a pointed thing that looks like a gramophone needle, but that doesn't mean anything. Looks to me more like some sort of woodworking attachment to scribe circles?

Barry

It would definitely work to scribe circles - the flat ended post goes into a hole in a piece of wood or metal and the tool rotates to scribe a circle. Using this to play a record would be the end of that recording...

epigramophone wrote:Thankyou both. As I thought, this looks like another case of an eBay seller with a vivid imagination.

Well, someone has a vivid imagination. In one of my junk boxes I have just that part, which is integral to one of those home recording devices from the 'Twenties which used a standard commercial record as feed-screw. Later versions used a brush made of glass fiber in place of the steel needl. Less chatter, I suppose.

I may be mistaken, but I think that one version of this unit was offered by Plaza.

Uncle Vanya wrote:

epigramophone wrote:Thankyou both. As I thought, this looks like another case of an eBay seller with a vivid imagination.

Well, someone has a vivid imagination. In one of my junk boxes I have just that part, which is integral to one of those home recording devices from the 'Twenties which used a standard commercial record as feed-screw. Later versions used a brush made of glass fiber in place of the steel needl. Less chatter, I suppose.

I may be mistaken, but I think that one version of this unit was offered by Plaza.

That's interesting! I've never seen that particular home recording device. I'd love to see an illustration to show how it worked.

George P.

For posterity, he is what's being talked about -- lifted from the listing.

Clay

Well, I've found the part. It is a bit of a Record-O-Phone device, which was indeed wholesales by the aplaza interests in the 'Twenties. I'm just about to leave for the holiday, so won't be able to get any pictures of the full set-up posted until after the New Year. Sorry.

I'm trying to post photos, but cannot seem to get my new iPad to upload them!

Oh, well! I'll keep trying.