The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I bought a portable gramophone, that looks a little like a HMV 102.
It has a "Songster Superb" British Made sound box, has a Garrard No. 30 motor, and has automatic start-stop.
The finish is croco structured brown-black leatherette.
Inside the lid I find this decal, showing an angel, "R B", and Patent No.28113/27.
Please help me identifying this portable. Thanks

Probably the product of one of many British firms who assembled gramophones from bought in components, but the presence of a double spring Garrard No.30 motor and attractive faux crocodile case covering places your machine above the average.

Songster (J.Stead & Co) are best known for their gramophone needles, but they also produced a range of soundboxes and a complete portable.

All in all a very nice machine. I only wish I could identify the manufacturer.

The 5-digit(!) patent number 28113/27 seems in fact to be a 1927 application number for a patent GB286181(A), titled "Improvements in sound directing or enhancing horns or trumpets", granted in 1928 to Thomas Edmund Birch. I had a look at the throat of my horn, but could not detect a second inside horn, although the bass response of this horn is remarkable. Since all other features of this patented horn are there, I conclude that the little inner horn has been lost.

Just a thought , possibly RB stands for Robert Bros. of Croydon who were at one time advertising they were the largest talking machine dealers in the country, so not out of the question that they may have used their own initials as a cheap line brand name. I have been right through the 1927 and 1928 Talking Machine News -- I have complete years of both the normal and trade issues but can find no obvious reference to RB in connection with gramophones. Dulcetto

chriswch2003 wrote:The 5-digit(!) patent number 28113/27 seems in fact to be a 1927 application number for a patent GB286181(A), titled "Improvements in sound directing or enhancing horns or trumpets", granted in 1928 to Thomas Edmund Birch. I had a look at the throat of my horn, but could not detect a second inside horn, although the bass response of this horn is remarkable. Since all other features of this patented horn are there, I conclude that the little inner horn has been lost.

PM sent, and meanwhile here is a link to a Songster portable currently for sale on UK eBay :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161783644635? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Roger

epigramophone wrote: PM sent, and meanwhile here is a link to a Songster portable currently for sale on UK eBay :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161783644635? ... EBIDX%3AIT
Roger

Hi Roger, thanks for the link, but no PM found. I am new and may have not properly set up my PM management.