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Does anyone know what this is? What kind of reproducer should it have?

fonografica wrote:Does anyone know what this is? What kind of reproducer should it have?

Its in very god condition!

The unusual bell shaped sound reflector suggests that the machine is a Nirona.

This German maker is best known for small tinplate toy gramophones, but larger versions with wooden cabinets such as this were probably intended for adult use. A typical Nirona soundbox is pictured here :

Finally I decided to purchase this machine since it was offered at a really low price.
The machine seems to be a French copy of the Nirona phonograph. What is really nice is that it was designed to play vertical cut records. It was missing the reproducer but as you can see in the pictures a Pathé reproducer fits nicely into the tone arm. I have added a video where you can see it playing.


https://youtu.be/GniJ-imrtS4

Just watched video. That machine is a keeper.Pathé' reproducer wo
rks perfectly! It is definitely a Grand machine for its size. Very impressive sound.

Steve Levi wrote:Just watched video. That machine is a keeper.Pathé' reproducer wo
rks perfectly! It is definitely a Grand machine for its size. Very impressive sound.

Yes it sounds great for its size. Thanks for your remarks.

fonografica wrote:Does anyone know what this is? What kind of reproducer should it have?

its a machine made by parlophone(lindstrom) for the french market marketed with no brand name on the machines
there seems to also have been a version with a disfuser type of reproducer reminiscent of the hmv lumiere
there was also a external horn machine with the same type ornate steam pressed wood case (the ornamentations where pressed on with a mold using steam)
tino

Great information!
Thanks!

well that's why i collect thousands photo's and info to help people like you

the bell shape was a thing that came from the first world war the idea was indeed nirona's but.. not intentional
nirona made lamps and gassmasks during the war the shape was most likely from the lamps soldiers where using the bell of those lamps and ammo boxes to house the motor to construct a phonograph and odeon was the first company to pick up this idea
and they released a phonograph that in all intentions looks like a early nirona i don't know how or when nirona stepped in but they did and the first nirona's are identical tino

tinovanderzwan wrote:well that's why i collect thousands photo's and info to help people like you

the bell shape was a thing that came from the first world war the idea was indeed nirona's but.. not intentional
nirona made lamps and gassmasks during the war the shape was most likely from the lamps soldiers where using the bell of those lamps and ammo boxes to house the motor to construct a phonograph and odeon was the first company to pick up this idea
and they released a phonograph that in all intentions looks like a early nirona i don't know how or when nirona stepped in but they did and the first nirona's are identical

odeon trenchphone (the idea for the nirona machines).jpg

tino

The idea that these machines originated from the needs of a trench gramophone during WWI is really fascinating. Thank you Tino for your time and knowledge.