Rare Berliner Lever Wound Tin Can Gramophone

[Zwebie]

A Tuba-Phone the other day, and now this.

Looks like some rare machines are coming out of the woodwork!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Berliner-L ... SwFqJWp8Wv

Looks to be original. What's right? What's wrong?

Bob S.

[TinfoilPhono]

Wrong horn and incomplete reproducer but still -- WOW! That is a very rare machine.

[JohnM]

What's up with the glass plate on the turntable? Is that something original?

[VintageTechnologies]

I highly doubt the glass plate is original. Primitive machines like that will rarely be played and may sit displayed on a shelf for years - that glass plate would keep the original felt flat and prevent a buildup of dust on the felt. It looks nice. I simply leave a single-sided record upside down on the turntable to keep dust off the felt.

[gramophone78]

This machine holds several mysteries. First, it retains an early tone arm with a hand wind horn support. The arm has no screw on the side for the later strap reproducer. The later reproducer's have an ear in the body casting and the screw is for the ear to rest on to create the proper angle for play. This reproducer has (now missing) the rubber stopper that rests on the top of the arm (like the early hand wind).

There is also no patent information branded on the oak base normally found on all of Berliner's early models without a decal.

The metal housing also has what appears to be a possible brake with a nickel swing lever. This possible brake is clearly original to this machine as the casting shows the provision for it (raised flat,contoured area). There appears to be a pin or stay to only allow this lever to go up vertically until it hits this pin and only one way to swing back down to the right. Yet, no leather pad appears to be present. So, is this some early form of "swing brake"???.

Certainly the only tin can model I have seen with this possible brake. Not that there are many to compare.. .

The reproducer has a "5" stamped where the normal serial number should be. The reproducer looks like no strap I have ever seen, yet very original.

The glass table looks very old and professionally made.

The horn appears to be very early and not a put together piece. It does seem to be too short for this machine.
Yet, a mint early leather elbow is present.

Even the original storage box is all there (just in pieces).

In light of all the above.....I wonder if this is possibly (edited) a prototype..??.

Whatever it is....it is very cool and go for a lot of money.

Edited due to fingers faster than my brain.

[fran604g]

Great discussion, I hope you guys don't mind my getting involved by posting the few remaining photos, for posterity.

I think I got them all correctly.

[howardpgh]

I saw a discussion about this machine or one like on the TMF Forum a couple years ago.

[gramophone78]

I saw a discussion about this machine or one like on the TMF Forum a couple years ago.

Yes, another was found for very little money and has the normally features seen on the few examples known I mention above.
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... er+tin+can

[phonogfp]

Great discussion, I hope you guys don't mind my getting involved by posting the few remaining photos, for posterity.

I think I got them all correctly.

Fran, you forgot to reverse that horn and sound box!

I think it's premature to even consider the "P-word" until the serial number is known. I do expect this machine is early production since the only other metal-cased lever-wind Berliner with a brake is numbered in the 80s (eighties). If so, it begs the question of why the brake on this model was discontinued during its production.

George P.

[fran604g]

I thought I might hear "the walrus was Paul".