The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Anybody familiar with this company? This has come up for sale not far from me, looking for info, anything look right, wrong?

Does it crank and play? Does it have a crank, tonearm, reproducer, turntable, motor and all other original parts? Finally, is it priced under $200? If so and you like it, it’s probably ok...

Curt A wrote:Does it crank and play? Does it have a crank, tonearm, reproducer, turntable, motor and all other original parts? Finally, is it priced under $200? If so and you like it, it’s probably ok...

It has all parts, I have no idea whats original because I have never seen one, it's priced just over 100 but I wanted some insight from the members if anybody has seen one, I have found some info online but nothing shows this cabinet. . . .And I do like it lol

Neat looking machine- If it's all there it seems well worth the $100. A quick search turned up a little info, a Crescent for sale and a guy selling some Crescent parts.

https://offerup.com/item/detail/324328546/

https://www.intertique.com/BirthOfTheVictrolaClones.htm

https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=& ... t&_sacat=0


Brad Abell

A variation on the open sided machine- plain lines but rather attractive.

Sweet! If I were you it'd be "One-Step" right over to the dealer, no "Hesitation"--hand that bill over so fast you could see Franklin "Glide" off the front.

Sorry for the l9l0s dance music puns but that is one cool-looking phonograph.

I love too see a picture under the lid. It sure looks like an interesting machine.
Harvey Kravitz

If you like it, buy it, no regrets.

As far as the Crescent Talking Machine Co., the information we have is probably the same as you found on your search. The company was founded in 1916, New York, one of the models they made was called 'Silvertone', but NOT the Sears brand. There was also a Crescent Phonograph Co., at a different address, but in New York as well. And, there was a Crescent Co. out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

We have a couple of pictures that can be connected to machines made by the 'Crescent Talking Machine Co.' If your prospective machine resembles the decal, tone arm, brake, etc., it's probably a safe bet they are original.

Hope this helps. Let us all know if you get it, and more pictures please!

All the best,

To my eye this is a far more pleasant design than the florid gilded/painted/carved and otherwise over-ornamented high line machines that some others tend to drool over. The whole Craftsman (Stickley, Roycrofters, etc) movement was a reaction to Victorian decorative excesses, and although this machine is probably from a bit later than the movement's heyday (and is not rendered in the more typical quarter-sawn oak), it's a very clean and attractive design.

I hope you went and picked it up, and if you did, please post more pictures.

I wonder if they continued to manufacture phonographs right up into the mid-1950's ??