The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

If you have one for sale, please let me know by PM. If you'd like to send photos and asking price, too, please do. Thanks.

I'll be driving down from SF to LA for the big phono show on 13-14 August, so if you have a BF along that route (or that can get to the show), let me know...

Well guess what turned up on craigslist, locally, bright and early this morning?

I think the BE and BF cousins are the most perfected of the Columbia cylinder machines, with pleasing aesthetics and solid performance. In a lot of ways they perform like a Home in a Standard size package (BE) and a Triumph in a Home size package (BF). Plus they possess ornate and interesting cabinets, lovely nickeled bedplates, banner decals, gilt and flowered decoration, and clean industrial design with faired-in top works and no exposed gears or feed screws.

The aluminum horns are audacious, and compelling, at the same time.

Congrats... I love mine

Congratulations! A BF isn't the typical caliber of phonograph that shows up on Craigslist - - at least not around here... And it came with its original aluminum horn? You might want to buy a lottery ticket.

I agree that the BF, BE, and BG are outstanding machines. Your comparisons of the $30 BE to the $30 Edison Home and the $40 BF to the $50 Edison Triumph are apt, and I've pointed out the same thing in the past. I love 'em all, but in 1905-1907 I'd have bought a Graphophone.

George P.

I always had a soft spot for the later B series Graphophones. I love the ornate cabinets, the nickle plated bedplates, and the floral decals on the black enamel upper mechanism. I think they play loud and clear. The only draw back is you cannot play wax cylinders on them. If a 2/4 min Graphophone shows up, that's even better. They have no pot metal, either.
Harvey Kravitz