The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I see a Columbia BII for sale on Ebay with a reproducer I have not seen before. Is it correct or contemporary for that phonograph?

Thanks! Cliff

https://www.ebay.com/itm/262937589772

I believe that is the "Improved Champion" reproducer. I think it was available in two different sizes as well.

Wes

downsouth wrote:I believe that is the "Improved Champion" reproducer. I think it was available in two different sizes as well.

Wes

Thanks! I have seen a similar smaller sized one, this is the first larger one I've seen. Is it appropriate for the BII?

Cliff

At the moment, I am unable to access my copy of Baumbach & Lackey's Columbia Phonograph Companion; but this soundbox was often used on Grafonolas, at the same period in which the BII was produced. I wager that it is original to the machine.

Bill

Based on the Baumbach Book it is a Columbia Concert Grand reproducer. On Columbia machines it is usually branded in the middle of the bezel, on Columbia client machines it is usually unbranded.

Andreas

So one of these is a Columbia Concert and the other a Columbia Concert Grand? The Grand looks like it has a molded aluminum diaphragm. Does that mean 1925 or later? The smaller one has a mica diaphragm.

Cliff

I believe it's correct, though I do not have documented proof of that. I have 2 BII's, each has a different reproducer. Each was purchased from a non-collector/dealer, so the chances of them having been tampered with are very low. The one basically has that same reproducer, less the decorative cover cap. I believe the BII was offered for many years, with at least 2 or 3 different back bracket/tone arm combinations. I have to believe that over the life of this model, several different reproducers were also part of the changes.

Thanks for all the info! I need to get the Columbia disc phono book. Cliff

CDBPDX wrote:Thanks for all the info! I need to get the Columbia disc phono book. Cliff

Unfortunately Baumbach left the reproducer section out of the new electronic edition, so you would have to look for a paper edition. Even there it's just one page of images. I would love to find more comprehensive Columbia reproducer information.

Andreas

I have a Columbia second Style Deluxe Grafonola with the Concert Grand reproducer, but it is gold plated. The machine is from the same period as the BII. My BII has a different reproducer. I will post a photo when I get a chance.

Oddly, my second style Deluxe does not match the drawing in the book. It is more ornate and has two doors and no louvers. It does have the other features mentioned. I have not found a picture of another second style Deluxe.