The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I purchased an EXCELDA camera case type portable at a farm auction. It came with this SATURN reproducer. It looks a lot like a HMV but made in Germany. Did this reproducer come with this machine or is it from a different unit? I can't find much on the internet about Saturn Talking Machines. Does anybody know about this company?
Thanks Terry

I would say it's not original to the machine.
Excelda's were made by Thorens of Switzerland, so I would expect the original soundbox to be Swiss also.
I'm fairly certain that all Excelda's also had a soundbox with a mask over the diaphragm to protect it when packed up.

gramophoneshane wrote:I'm fairly certain that all Excelda's also had a soundbox with a mask over the diaphragm to protect it when packed up.

Yes and no- earlier models had open faced soundboxes with mica diaphragms, later ones had metal diaphragms and face plates. I agree that this isn't the original.

I found these 3 soundboxes on another site. I've never come across the mica diaphragm Excelda S/B before.

The one on mine has an unmarked faceplate and just says Switzerland on the back, but I think it's original. Thorens made thousands of these and probably equipped them with what ever was in stock. I think the metal diaphragm soundboxes work better because with that tiny horn you need lots of volume.

I will have to look for the proper soundbox on ebay. The Saturn must be for something else I can't seem to find information on it!
Thanks Terry