The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've always been a bit curious about this - how many of us seasoned talking machine collectors also have at least one children's vintage toy crank phonograph in their collection ?? (photo from the internet)

It might seem strange, but I have none. My own phonographs are not intended to be shelf queens and should be robust, run good and sound good. I had a few Thorens Excelda portables over the years and sold them off. They were interesting to demonstrate, but not too practical for extended listening.

I love the shelf queens! The kids machines add so much color, decoration and interest to a collection. In reality, any front mount machine is a shelf machine. I enjoy a variety of machines in my collection but I also have machines that are good players and those get the most play. Jerry Blais

Very often my Bing Pygmiphone gets more attention than my more priced possessions. Together with other small kids machines it adds color and interest, like Jerry said.

Andreas

I've had a "Little Tots" machine for many years.. One is pictured on page 239 of "The Phonograph Compendium" by George and Tim. It is pictured as an unidentified machine-- My example has a cardboard insert on the bottom that ID's it as "Little Tots Phonograph" by Plaza Music Company of New York.

I'm a retired teacher. Each year around Edison's Birthday I would take a few machines into the school to show the kids-- The Little Tots and my decorated Bing Pygmyphone were always a favorite of the younger kids.

Brad Abell

Brad, your "Little Tots" phonograph reminds me of a "Baby Jeanette '25'" that's displayed here. This one lacks all the nice decals of the "Little Tots," having only a bird on the front. And at some point, Mr. Mouse or Sammy Squirrel decided to open up that horn a bit... but I never fixed it. This "Baby Jeanette" has a cardboard bottom pressed into the wooden frame too. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what it is. (Too bad we didn't have your "Little Tots" machine to photograph back in 1996; we could have identified it! )

Alongside is a Madame Hendren talking doll and six cylinders. Barbie had this doll displayed with some other old toys beside the tree this past Christmas, and our company got a kick out of the doll. They couldn't believe it still works.

The Victrola IV isn't necessarily a child's phonograph, but at least one Victor record sleeve design showed little kids listening to one, along with a recommended list of records for children.

The colorful cards are a set that accompany Little Tots Records, and they have lyrics printed on the back. There are also a couple of 7" scroll Victor records of Frank Luther singing children songs.

That's it for kiddy phonographs here...

George P.

I only have one, but it was so nice that I couldn't resist. You don't see many that are in this kind of condition.

Wow! You're right - that Bingola looks brand new!

Beautiful.

George P.

Not a toy gramophone but clearly intended for children, the Decca Nursery Model is popular with UK collectors because of it's beautifully decorated case. When my wife decided that "if you can't beat them, join them" I bought her one to go with her collection of children's records :

That Little Tots phonograph looks just like the little Yale Bluebird !! (photo borrowed from Curt's image)