The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all , I recently bought a batch of around twenty various machines including this incomplete early Columbia hornless model which I am guessing is from around the 1908 to 1910 period judging by the style of trade-mark decal on its side panel. Unfortunately incomplete , missing its turntable ( the turntable currently placed upon it is not the correct one and does not fit properly ! ) and reproducer and looks as if there is a missing metal grille that would have been screwed over the front aperture of the horn opening. However, must be fairly unusual as I haven't seen another example mentioned anywhere in all my years collecting -- so I quickly referred to The Columbia Phonograph Companion Vol II by Robert Baumbach , which lists ' all known' USA made Columbia machines , but it ain't in there !

Other identifying marks -- the motor's bed-plate has serial numbers also the letters AJ.

I am located in the UK and although pre-1921 American made Columbia disc machines were sold new in UK , surviving numbers would seem to indicate that sales were not as prolific as those of competing manufacturers.

I would welcome any assistance in identification of this model and if anyone can specify which reproducer it should have , also any other information will be gratefully received. Dulcetto

The grille opening looks much like the one on my BZH (a Columbia "client" machine): the case, however, is much different. forum.talkingmachine.info/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5317&hilit=BZH

Did you remove the brake/speed control, or is it missing?

Bill

Looks like it had the "plunger" type brake / speed control ?

Interesting that they made an aperture in the horn for the control to be accessed...

I was wondering where the plunger speed control goes. I don't see a hole in the front to accommodate this. I am suspicious of the motor board support arm. These were made out of brass or steel. The support in the picture looks homemade. I don't think that part is original. I wonder about the decal also. These client machines did not have a Columbia decal.
Harvey Kravitz

The author of this thread lives in the UK so some variation is possible. Jerry

Thank you Gentlemen , for your comments so far. Yes, the speed control / brake is of the plunger type and is missing. There is a cut -out in the horn to allow it to be connect with the motor --also the control knob must have protruded through the grille -- I would imagine there was a specifically shaped aperture in the grille to accommodate it. Harvey is correct -- the wooden support arm is not original, it is home-made.
The deal however is totally right. The machine came in a batch with several others that had not been touched for around 30 years or more, and have certainly not been " restored " in any way by a collector. I have simply cleaned and polished the cabinet and metal parts . Dulcetto

In previous message , for ' deal ' read 'decal ' oops !! Dulcetto

That is quite a late decal, I think Columbia might have been slapping machines together to use up paerts