Questions on Columbia BG / BGT

[Jerry B.]

I purchased a project BGT machine and have a few questions.
*
The back bracket is installed over a decal. Does this indicate the installation was done after the machine left the factory?
*
Should a tone arm Graphophone have a two and four minute mechanism or is a two minute mechanism appropriate?

Thanks, Jerry Blais

[TinfoilPhono]

Not all tone arm Columbias were 2/4 minute, in my experience very few were. I do suspect that tonearm was a later modification but I will defer to others on that question.

[Valecnik]

I've seen several BFTs, BGTs with the back bracket right over the decal. I'm not sure if that means they were retrofitted but I think not. I'm guessing the cases were probably already at the factory ready to go. Perhaps you could also still buy them with or without tonearms.

My BGT is 2 & 4 min and has the back bracket installed over the decal for whatever that's worth.

[phonogfp]

My observations are the same as Bruce's. I see nothing on your BGT to suggest that anything has been done to it since it left the factory.

George P.

[ChuckA]

Is the metal ID tag stamped BGT or BG? I've seen them both ways and I think if it has the "T" stamped it is a factory installation.


Chuck

[phonocookie]

I have a BGT and it's 2 min only. Back bracket is over the decal on the back. But my back bracket is black. The serial number is 10510.

[Bruce]

Jerry

I have a BFT and the back bracket is over the decal as well.

Bruce

[ChuckA]

My BGT has the decal under the bracket, both my BFT's have decal under the bracket, BET, BVT, BKT, BO,& BQ don't have decals on the back.


Chuck

[Jerry B.]

I think I answered my own question. The partial paper label on the inside of the lid shows a price of $65. I checked the partial label on my BG and it shows a price of $50. Unless there was a terrific amount of inflation in a short time period, I suspect the price difference was between the two models. Jerry Blais