The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I am going to get a machine from Eduardo and it has a decal I cannot riddle. Nor can he. It is on the left panel of the machine.

Any ideas?

Here is a picture of the decal found on the back of most Columbia BG's and BGT's. However whats left of your decal looks to be more round in shape so I am not sure. Maybe Forum member Harvey can give us his thoughts.

Pete

The remains of the decal is the Graphophone Grand Prize Shield Decal. It is obviously worn. There are two types of these decals. If the front decal says Graphophone, then the 1904 St Louis decal is correct. If the front decal says The Columbia Graphophone, then the Grand Prize Shield Decal should say Milan 1906. Machines with Columbia Graphophone or Columbia Disk Graphophone decals came out after 1907. This is just a rule of thumb. Columbia used what ever they had that day at the factory. That's why there are so many inconsistencies. The BGT is a scarce machine. Is it 2 min, or 2/4 min? Eduardo or Greg Cline should carry these decals.
Harvey Kravitz

Thank you everyone.

I looked the decals being sold by Gregg Cline. They look wonderful.

I am not convinced this is a shield decal for the following reason.

1.) It is large round, not shield shaped.

2.) You can clearly make out the the word GRAND on the decal; however it curves slightly downward. The shield decal has GRAND going straight

Could it possibly be a Columbia Grand Prize Round?

He has indicated it is a 2/4 minute machine

The more i look at the outline of what is left of your decal the more i think it may have been the Grand Prize Round ( see picture).
Pete

I' would like to just see more of that beautiful machine.

I got it on lay away. No concerns I will get it I just am waiting awhile so not to cause an argument with the wife.

I think it was the Grand Prize Round too though I will wait to make that decision to I get to inspect it closely with a magnifying glass.

I am keeping the primary decal but this one under discussion needs to be replaced for obvious reasons.

victorthesixth wrote:I am going to get a machine from Eduardo and it has a decal I cannot riddle. Nor can he. It is on the left panel of the machine.

Any ideas?

I’ve been called a lot of things, but Eduardo is a new one on me.

Raphael

My bad meant to say Raphael. I am going senile