The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A fellow on another forum has an Oxford phonograph, and posted this picture of the reproducer to horn connection.
I'm wondering if this is as it should be??
I've never seen an Oxford in person (not having Sears in oz) but I've always thought they had a similar telescopic connector as used on the Columbia BQ.
Does anyone have an Oxford they could post a picture of if this set-up is wrong?

That's plumbin'! The original neck has a tightening arrangement where it fits over the reproducer throat.

John M

Hi G-Shane,

I can't answer your question directly, however, the picture looks like the copper piece is just a standard "45 degree street elbow". I would expect that the finish on all the connecting pieces would match or would combine plated and painted. Also, I would expect the copper to be more oxidized for it's age.

Here is a picture of a street elbow I gleened from the web:

Mr Hazelcorn's book (p. 160) shows a more angular connection than the BQ's rounder one. More like an "L" shape angling down from the tonearm to the reproducer. The tonearm is flat, not angled like the one pictured here. Brad is right about the copper one, it's not correct.

Steve

Thanks guys. I knew the copper plumbing wasn't original, but thought it may have had a similar connection originally.
I also thought the reproducer should have sat directly on top of the cylinder/mandrel as on the Columbia BQ. Has this Oxford got the wrong reproducer carriage fitted to the machine?

Thank you, gramophoneshane.

I am the owner of the Oxford in the picture. You are quite right, that is a ½" (i.e. ⅝" actual) 45 degree copper street ell. The one that WAS on there when I got it was chrome plated, but it was exactly the same otherwise.

The parts above it seem to be really Mickey Mouse. The larger tube to the horn swivel seems to be original, but the tube inside of it seems to be made from a piece of aluminum (or aluminium if you prefer) pipe, and the ID has been machined to fit a copper 90 degree street ell. The female portion of the ell has been shortened, and where the male portion of the 45 degree ell fits into the female portion of the 90 degree ell, that is where it swivels as the reproducer moves while the record is being played.

I made a video of it being played.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKM4SnSS4VQ[/youtube]

This is what the arm should look like:





Chuck

Thank you for posting that Chuck!
I've been very curious myself as to what it should look like. There's plenty of pictures out there of the Columbia BQ, but nothing for the Oxford.