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http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Partners-De ... 2ea9565f94

A nice looking item, fine for someone with the space and the ability to get it shipped.

To improve functionality, it should have been designed with the ability to crank while sitting at the desk.

Yes its a neat item, although somewhat like a odd duck.. I saw it going though ebay but for some reason figured it was someone's idea of a custom installation with out really accessing the page.. I guess its a bit better than the Columbia Desk which was one of the first, well it was the first console kind of shaped phonograph I owned. Something about it was rather lacking. If I recall the whole thing slid sideways in the cabinet and opened on the opposite end in a fairly small horn. Not too great looking either.. It went fairly early. Probably worth a fortune today?

The Columbia "Regent" desk case phonograph actually seems to have sold reasonably well- examples turn up mow and then. Early examples had a small lid in the top, later ones used the drawer. Overall the Columbia is a rather bulky machine and I like the Starr better- it has some elegance, and the walnut veneer would be spectacular after a good cleaning and polishing. It's really a console with a drawer and kneehole built into the center.

estott wrote:The Columbia "Regent" desk case phonograph actually seems to have sold reasonably well- examples turn up mow and then. Early examples had a small lid in the top, later ones used the drawer. Overall the Columbia is a rather bulky machine and I like the Starr better- it has some elegance, and the walnut veneer would be spectacular after a good cleaning and polishing. It's really a console with a drawer and kneehole built into the center.

The 'Regent' was also produced in at least two common case styles -- one, some sort of Chippendale-looking approximation (that I've always seen in mahogany), and the other an oak Arts & Crafts-style, although not a very graceful design.

Columbia's "Baby Regent" center table was a good seller and really quite charming, and the circular "Colonial" is particularly nice. They also made a heavily carved version as an Empire gaming table but they are very rare.

Since we are on the subject of the "Regent", here is what looks to be a fairly nice one that will be at auction in New Holland, PA this coming Friday. It needs cleaned up, but from what I can see, is complete. I wonder what it will go for...

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photo ... d=victrola

Well, for what it's worth, a MINT example of a regent in oak went for $800 at a local auction a couple of years ago. It was gorgeous, but I passed on it. They aren't fuctional as a desk at all, the cabinet is too low to put a chair in front of and they're HUGE machines. I would have been much more interested if it could have doubled as a desk.

Sean

estott wrote:Columbia's "Baby Regent" center table was a good seller and really quite charming, and the circular "Colonial" is particularly nice. They also made a heavily carved version as an Empire gaming table but they are very rare.

Good Lord! I've never seen one of these with the storage doors open and was not aware of the HUGE "Columbia Grafonola REGENT" transfers on the inside of the doors. Promotional Overkill?

Here are those Columbia Regent pics...