The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This one is in Bolder Colorado and it looks like quite a beauty. The seller wants $1000. That might be right for an oak example, but it's too far from my house to even consider. https://boulder.craigslist.org/atq/5500645205.html

It's worth it in my book. Nice, but oh so far away!

Wes

Be careful what you say. It's on my way to Union. Jerry Blais

Serial Number appears to be 782.

It is indeed very pretty. However… I am nit picking, perhaps, but it is missing its casters. I am not sure why the tone arm and reproducer seemed to retain their gold wash in the long view, but the close-up of the reproducer seems to show the gold wash is mostly missing. I also would want to see in person a machine where the seller does not show a clear photo of the crank entering the machine.

United Phonographs apparently used a lot of tonearm variants, reproducer variants, and speed control indicator variants. Here are a few tone arm and reproducer varieties (kindly provided by Pathé Logical), none of which look to be exactly the same as the one on this machine

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... c&start=10

But with all the variations out there, that's not to say that the tone arm and reproducer on this machine aren't the correct ones. If anyone has more information on these variants, I would be grateful to see it.

Best wishes, Mark

Good eye Mark. It almost looks like there is a Victrola motor installed. My eyes are not the best but that looks like a Victrola speed control and crank. What do others (with better eyes) think? Jerry

I contacted the seller and asked:

I am very interested in your Puritan. You have great photos and show every side except the crank side of the cabinet. Can I see a photo of that side? I want to make sure there is not an extra or filled crank hole. Thanks!

Jerry

It's beautiful, I've never seen one before. I love the grill at the bottom.
Rare?

I question the off-center turntable, seemingly mismatched motorboard with uncomfortable gaps, crank very close to the cabinet and above all the Victor-like speed control with it's escutcheon that overlaps motorboard and frame. All this obviously suggests another motor grafted in. But some of us collectors are a picky lot of misanthropes who spend their time searching for flaws...

I would put money on this motor being incorrect, among other things like the crank and speed control, etc. (the turntable, yes, is off center, the crank is far too close to the cabinet and positioned at a weird angle). still, this is an exciting machine to see, any puritan like this is an unusual find, but in oak, and in this condition... it may very well still be worth the asking price... but I'd say it's fairly certain that you'll have to find some additional components to make this "original."

Apropos of which....