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I was wondering if anyone here has ever run across one of these before. I found this in non-working condition, frozen up. I've managed to get things moving again. It's got a tiny little motor inside, and I don't know if the Goldring soundbox was original to this machine, but I suspect it was. The story was this was bought in Germany by the seller's parents when they lived there. I'm assuming this is from the 1950's, but I can find nothing about a Polydor portable anywhere online.

See here:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&s ... BasRREM%3A

Phono48 wrote:See here:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&s ... BasRREM%3A

Ah yes, thank you! Apparently they came in blue and green as well---

From these sources I am believing that the Goldring soundbox is not original to the machine then.

Not necessarily: it depends on the production years span of this gramophone. I would take for good that early units came fitted with a mica diaphragm soundbox. Later, who knows? Polydor might have updated the model by fitting it with an aluminium diaphragm soundbox. But possibly the soundobox was replaced by the previous owner.

Overall, I wouldn't say that this is the typical portable of the '50s. It looks more like something designed in the early '40s, perhaps even '30s.

It's a cute little portable, by the way, I like it!

Columbia78 wrote:From these sources I am believing that the Goldring soundbox is not original to the machine then.

What a neat little machine!

The soundbox presently fitted probably dates after 1933 when Goldring relocated from Germany to England. The Goldring Juwel Electro of 1926 had a mica diaphragm. If Polydor used Goldring soundboxes prior to 1933 they may well have continued to do so after that date, so yours could well be the original.

You may be able to get more information on the German forum http://grammophon-platten.de/. You can translate the site with Google translate for research. They also have an English language section and many Germans speak excellent English. Worth a try.

Andreas

I found a very incorrect but working metal diaphragmed soundbox that will do until I can get the Goldring repaired...

https://youtu.be/ClvzG8t0u1g