The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I enjoy working on these big machines! Both have been fully serviced and everything functions as it should be. Early and late version models. Enjoy the photos!


Keith

Gorgeous!

Awesome job!!!

Where did you get the nice brass gears, and other new bits, please?

PeterF wrote:Where did you get the nice brass gears, and other new bits, please?

They came from another collector who did not need them.

Are those changers like that pretty reliable? I've seen them before, but never asked if they were hard or records. They are sure nice looking, but take up a lot of real estate!

EarlH wrote:Are those changers like that pretty reliable? I've seen them before, but never asked if they were hard or records. They are sure nice looking, but take up a lot of real estate!

They are reliable. They must be adjusted to function properly and that is easy to do. Also, one must follow the instructions in the manual. There are two leather strips in the record drawer. If they are worn, the record can get hung up and not glide properly. This is how they can break or chip.

That's interesting. I'm glad to hear that they work reliably. I remember when collectors wouldn't touch those things with a barge pole. Most of the one's I've seen lately, if not all, in antique shops have been made into something else of course. It's too bad, but I guess not even that much would have survived otherwise.

You sure did a nice job on the cabinet work et. Those big machines are a lot of work to go through. I've refinished enough of that stuff to know it's MUCH more time consuming than most people think. Both Victor & Brunswick did a great job with fit and finish on their cabinets. I've never done any work on a Columbia.

EarlH wrote:That's interesting. I'm glad to hear that they work reliably. I remember when collectors wouldn't touch those things with a barge pole. Most of the one's I've seen lately, if not all, in antique shops have been made into something else of course. It's too bad, but I guess not even that much would have survived otherwise.

You sure did a nice job on the cabinet work et. Those big machines are a lot of work to go through. I've refinished enough of that stuff to know it's MUCH more time consuming than most people think. Both Victor & Brunswick did a great job with fit and finish on their cabinets. I've never done any work on a Columbia.

I am sure the reason they past on purchasing these big machines is the pot metal parts. I have a set of all the originals. I plan on doing AutoCAD 3D first. Then, producing them either in aluminum or hard plastic. They will be a perfect fit just like the factory originals.

The early version 10-50 on the left is original finish except for the top. The later version on the right is refinished.

I have always been fond of BIG machines of that era. BIGGER the BETTER!

Pierce-Arrow wrote:The early version 10-50 on the left is original finish except for the top. The later version on the right is refinished.

What are the differences?