The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The owner of the antique center in my town recently got an Amberola VIII.Yesterday myself and another dealer worked on it.He didn't have a Blue Amberol to test it with.I gave him a duplicate I had of "Snow Deer"by Ada Jones and Billy Murray.The machine sounded wobbly,and it also sounded like the reproducer needed a rebuild,also a new diamond stylus.It has crossed my mind to get rid of my Amberola 30.(which I've had since 1982)and getting the VIII.Would it be worth it?edisonplayer

If you want a reliable, every day player, stick with the 30. If you want a slightly more interesting, harder-to-find machine, consider the VIII.

I suspect if you put them side by side, you'd probably prefer the sound quality of the 30.

You're right 52089,I WILL stick with my 30.I remember Jerry Donnell had an VIII,and he didn't think much of them.He liked the Amberola V the best.If it was a V,giving up the 30 would make more sense.edisonplayer

The 30 has a simpler and rugged motor, but a puny horn. The VIII is more interesting overall and could be made to run smoother.