The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just spent a pleasant 6 hours tearing down, cleaning, oiling, and reassembling this little guy. It works perfectly. It really sounds good on acoustic and early electric disks. Very clean and full sound. I got it on Ebay a few years ago and it's been sitting around collecting dust. Has anyone ever come across one, or heard anything about them? Other than the decal, there are no markings, even on the motor. I've tried Google, but nothing comes up. I'm hanging on to this small plywood beauty. I've been playing it for two hours and I really like it.

It looks very respectable. I like it!

The logo implies a Columbia venture in Japan James.

Roaring20s wrote:It looks very respectable. I like it!

The logo implies a Columbia venture in Japan

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James.

Thank you for that information. I didn't know Columbia had a Japanese connection in the 30's. The sound is sent down under the motorboard and then directed to the slanted piece of wood in the back of the rear opening. Not quite VivaTonal, but a nice, full, mellow tone.

The Nipponophone Company was formed in 1910 and later became affiliated to the UK Columbia Graphophone Company. In 1931 it adopted the UK Columbia trademark. A wide variety of machines were produced in the Japanese factory, mostly portables, for which very little documentary evidence seems to exist.

Was manufacturing based in the Town of Titipu ?

I like the look of the plywood. Looks like a spunky li'l fella. Much handsomer than the portables that are covered in that pebbly stuff.

That is a very cute little portable! I like it. Just one question: Are you sure it is plywood? The picture doesn't show any crossbanding (layers) on the edges. Maybe the resolution on this screen is too low.

De Soto Frank wrote:Was manufacturing based in the Town of Titipu ?

Assembled by three little maids...?