The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello British and European forum friends,

I'm currently assisting a friend of mine restore a Gaydon Stentorphone cabinet gramophone.
From my online searches I've been able to discover the name of the inventor or manufacturer of this machine but not much else.
I'm wondering if anyone else has seen something similar to what we are working on, has any information regarding the machine, or has any catalogue information or literature about it.
We'd love to know the model designation and perhaps a rough year of manufacture (and place).

We're hoping to start operation of the machine in the next few weeks.

Any information or comments would be greatly appreciated.

The original pre-1914 Stentorphone was a compressed air amplified machine and a rival to the Auxetophone.

Like the Auxetophone it was employed in dance halls, exhibitions and open air concerts. After WW1 it found a new role as the basis of an early public address system.

Your friend's imposing machine is probably of post-WW1 date, but I have been unable to find any information about it. I hope your friend has an oak panelled baronial hall in which to display this fine and very rare acquisition.

Thanks for the reply. The compressor and motor have been rebuilt and I'm excited to hear it for the first time.

The oak paneled baronial hall is next years project.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bSo ... ox&f=false

https://www.earlytech.com/earlytech/item?id=630

Please make a video when it's working

Great links slippery, I hadn't seen these before. I'll definitely post a video, stay tuned.

Slightly off topic, here is a picture of an Auxetophone in action :

I came across that image when googling the Stentorphone, It's brilliant, and gives an idea of how loud one of these machines might have been.

Notice how those at the back of the audience have turned to face the camera. Having one's photograph taken was still a novelty to many.

Well I have an update, but not a good one.

The rebuilt compressor is working very well and is very quiet when running (much quieter than a modern one).
However, I'm not getting ANY sound out of the reproducer. I can hear the record playing in the reproducer itself, and have held it against a record without the compressor or the tonearm connected and there is some sound, just not enough it would seem. Connecting air or even manually blowing into the tube connected to the reproducer
does not change the volume at all.

Has anyone ever taken apart an Auxetophone reproducer? Is it made on a similar principal?