Very strange "Gramophone" recently sold at auction. Got me.

[jboger]

My brother alerted me to an auction by email a few days ago, but I failed to read his email until just now. The auction is now over (neither I nor my brother bought the machine pictured below), and only today have I seen the photo of the gramophone that was sold. Does anyone recognize this machine? From a physics standpoint, it does not make sense to me. First, the tone arm seems to be a flat strip of metal, not hollow to allow the sound to be transmitted from the diaphragm to the horn. Nor does the "tone arm" appear to be directly connected to the horn, unless inside the cabinet? The tag states "Gramophone." Note the position of the crank on top of the cabinet. The machine seems to be ether a UK or Continental apparatus judging by the shape of the horn. Is this a pastiche of sundry parts, a hodge-podge of unrelated things, a potpouri of this 'n that? Or is this the genuine article, a bona fide gramophone sold back in the day just as shown in the photo below?

[estott]

I think this is some kind of music box, probably quite modern

[jboger]

Seems logical. I don't see how the tone arm would track with the groove. This thing is a phony phonograph, eh?

[gramophone78]

These are made by Thorens (Swiss) and are a music box. Probably better posted in our Euro section if a 'real' Gramophone... .
http://www.ebay.com/itm/THORENS-GRAMOPH ... SwepJXZbR5

[CarlosV]

It's a music box. The cylinder with the notes is under the disc, which evidently is not one with grooves to be played with a needle, but incisions that will hit the right note in the cylinder as it spins.