The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

and it's only £800

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTIQUE-GARRA ... SwjDZYbPO7

I can see why this is your favorite... anyone would love to have this in their collection. It is a well designed Columbia Viva-Tonal Garrard machine that must have been made for a discriminating buyer...

This reminds me of the really HiFi turntable available in the 80's and 90's, but in a wind up version.

What exactly are we looking at? Is this an original period machine as factory assembled and sold? Or is it a post-modern minimalist repurposing of old parts? That would make it a Frankenphone. But if that's the case, it was still an artist who made this. It was an act of genius to put that small horn in the center sandwiched between the platter and the motor. And that top-side crank--well, simply great. So, what is it, an original machine or someone's modern creation?

Well, obviously a Frankenphone, an absolute fantasy product made from mostly 1920s/1930s portable parts. I agree that there was a level of skill involved, especially in the drive mechanism for the turntable. There is even a counter weight for the tonearm, so the person who made this at least had mechanical understanding of how phonographs work. From a design perspective I assume it was inspired by early Berliner gramophones, but only VERY loosely. Over all I think it is an interesting study into the workings of a phonograph, but should be clearly identified as such.

Andreas

jboger wrote:What exactly are we looking at? Is this an original period machine as factory assembled and sold? Or is it a post-modern minimalist repurposing of old parts? That would make it a Frankenphone. But if that's the case, it was still an artist who made this. It was an act of genius to put that small horn in the center sandwiched between the platter and the motor. And that top-side crank--well, simply great. So, what is it, an original machine or someone's modern creation?

It is a modern assembly, including the addition of a trumpet bell as horn. The soundbox looks like the ones used in crapophones, although there is a legitimate Swiss soundbox that looks like this, but actually is a high quality one. Some parts look modern like the crank and the counterweight. It is creative, though, and if the seller would remove one zero from the asking price he would be able to sell it eventually, probably to some gothic-punk fan.

Oh... a Sousa-Rhymba-Phone!

CarlosV wrote:

jboger wrote:What exactly are we looking at? Is this an original period machine as factory assembled and sold? Or is it a post-modern minimalist repurposing of old parts? That would make it a Frankenphone. But if that's the case, it was still an artist who made this. It was an act of genius to put that small horn in the center sandwiched between the platter and the motor. And that top-side crank--well, simply great. So, what is it, an original machine or someone's modern creation?

It is a modern assembly, including the addition of a trumpet bell as horn. The soundbox looks like the ones used in crapophones, although there is a legitimate Swiss soundbox that looks like this, but actually is a high quality one. Some parts look modern like the crank and the counterweight. It is creative, though, and if the seller would remove one zero from the asking price he would be able to sell it eventually, probably to some gothic-punk fan.

If this was reasonably priced I'd enjoy having it.

JerryVan wrote:Oh... a Sousa-Rhymba-Phone!

The Rube Goldberg Autograph Model...

Bill

Good god.
It sold for £809.00