The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So my wife and I stumbled on this phonograph at a local estate sale last month. We've been looking for any kind of information on it but so far absolutely no luck. Does anyone have any history on this? I'm including a few pictures but will be happy to take some more.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Rex was one of the Philadelphia-based companies that produced hill-and-dale recordings and phonographs upon which to play them in the era immediately following WWI when this format was the most popular. Turning the reproducer will allow your Rex to play either lateral 78's or hill-and-dale recordings by inserting a sapphire ball-tip stylus.

Keen-O-Phone was another Philadelphia hill-and-dale company.

The grill cloth in your example is not original.

While your Rex will play the Victor Orthophonic record on the turntable, that record type was recorded electrically and is about a decade younger than your machine. Electrical recordings will not sound optimally on your Rex.

You need to find some scarce Rex records for it now . . . and a sapphire ball stylus!

Neat!! I can't say it is worth a whole pile of money, but it is definitely a somewhat obscure and seldom seen machine. Check out the top row of pictures on this website- these are the records originally made to go with your machine:

http://www.majesticrecord.com/labelsr2.htm

Here's another 'Rex' on New Hampshire Craigslist for just $150. This one has original grill intact.

http://nh.craigslist.org/atq/1388889106.html

Rex was formed in 1914, it's related to the Keen-O-Phone company. Keen-O-Phone manufactured very expensive machines which failed to sell. The Rex Talking Machine Co. was formed to use the Keen-O-Phone factory and record plant to construct a much cheaper machine. They sold a fair amount of machines but were mostly in the business of recording and pressing records under a variety of names. The company was bought out by Imperial Industries in 1917.

I've seen several Rex machines, all table models. They have been decently constructed but were intended to sell for low prices.