The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A friend of mine recently bought this machine. I think it is a knock off from India. Any different opinions? I'd like to give him good news.

The horn looks like part of an original Victor horn..

Cliff

I have no idea what the machine actually is, but the horn is not a Victor horn. It has the look of a Columbia horn but seems to have a Victor type end for connecting to the elbow. It must be some type of after market horn. Could the machine be European? What type of motor and reproducer does it have?

Dan

It's a frankenphone. The arm is from a portable. I'm not sure about the reproducer. The horn isn't fitted into the elbow. It looks like it was forced in. Because of the very blurry pictures, it's hard to see the detail.
Harvey Kravitz

The horn has got to be worth something. I agree, it looks Columbia.

Phonofreak wrote:It's a frankenphone. The arm is from a portable. I'm not sure about the reproducer. The horn isn't fitted into the elbow. It looks like it was forced in. Because of the very blurry pictures, it's hard to see the detail.
Harvey Kravitz

Looks like there's a fastener on the top of the elbow. I have an elbow like it in the gaggle- of- spare- parts room, it's some sort of 1970s/ 80s reproduction part, if I recall. Mine is even painted the same dull brownish gold.

It doesnt look like any of the Indian knock-offs I've seen.

With all due respect to those who have far more knowledge than I, it looks legit to me. The horn sure looks like a Columbia horn. I think the wood case does too. We need to see more, like the crank knob, platen, and motor. And how that horn fits into the elbow. Very curious.

jboger wrote:With all due respect to those who have far more knowledge than I, it looks legit to me. The horn sure looks like a Columbia horn. I think the wood case does too. We need to see more, like the crank knob, platen, and motor. And how that horn fits into the elbow. Very curious.

Yes, I am curious about the crank myself- and under the turntable, and the motor. It looks possibly European. If it's a Frankenphone it looks a bit better executed than most.

Frankenphone to me: the tone arm and the horn elbow give it away. Ebay is infested with them, with emphasis on Spanish and Eastern European dealers that specialize in such forgeries (they are advertised as original HMVs and Columbias).

More pictures. I've never seen a corduroy turntable 'felt' before.

Cliff