The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Anyone have any information on the Columbia Viva-Tonal 650 ? I purchased one this week-end from a NH Craigslist. This is my first Viva-Tonal machine . The motor although small runs super quiet. The motor is stamped made in England. There is no semi or automatic brake. Should there be ? The sound is very good and LOUD with just a soft tone needle. The case isn't bad needs a few re glues. On the back stamped in the wood is FCT-No. 2 and F-2488. Also inside was a partial label "COMPOSITE PATENT MARKING LABEL FOR ALL COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH PRODUCTS SOLD IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES " All in all I am very pleased with this addition.

Could you post some pictures? I have a Columbia Viva Tonal 611 which is basically the same as yours except yours has a fancy bottom portion with drawers? I think.

The Viva Tonal 650 was in the small machine range of Columbia floor models. It looks much different from the other 600 machines with their painted flowers, etc. If your turntable motor says Made in England, that may indicate that it is a late machine, about 1928, because Columbia started using Garrard motors then.

Check this, if you haven't found it already: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=15370 . Mine has just a basic manual brake, same as yours.

ps - Searching Google Patents for phono-related items is a good way to discover & save tons of info you might otherwise never read. My "Phono Patents" folders are immense, but there are still thousands more to find. But I'm a geek (or nerd, your choice) & I love such tidbits of information.

I'm not sure if the Garrard motor had an auto brake shut off or not. I have two Columbia Viva Tonal big machines, an 800 with semi-auto shutoff, and a more expensive 810 with no auto shut off. This has been discussed before, and my conclusion is that my 810 was probably an early 1926 model, but that's just a guess. then again, I'm not sure if you have a Garrard motor. Some pics would help here! I also have a later 1927-28 model 720 machine with a Heinemann motor. It does have the semi auto shutoff. I think that Columbia used Heinemann for a very short amount of time before going to Garrard. Garrards are said to be superior motors.