The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

These are photos of a machine I saw for sale on EBay. It looks like a Columbia machine but apparently it isn’t. Who made this?

Pathé, they often resembled columbia's, this one copying the type B, I suspect the wooden base might be a replacement though

Pathé wasn't the only European company to make knock-offs of the Columbia "Eagle." There's a wealth of machines made by many different manufacturers that were all closely based on the Columbia design. I've often thought it would be fun to put together a collection of as many different permutations as possible. It would be a very big collection!

TinfoilPhono wrote:Pathé wasn't the only European company to make knock-offs of the Columbia "Eagle." There's a wealth of machines made by many different manufacturers that were all closely based on the Columbia design. I've often thought it would be fun to put together a collection of as many different permutations as possible. It would be a very big collection!

Learn something new everyday!

Here's my favorite Eagle knockoff: the Omega. There are a ton of similarities to the Columbia, but a couple of major differences as well -- notably the vertical governor. The only other phonograph I'm aware of with vertical governor is the Edison Class M.

Did these play and have the same quality as the Columbia machines? Or were these a little “off?” Like a Victrola compared to an off brand upright like a Vitanola for example.

AmberolaAndy wrote:Did these play and have the same quality as the Columbia machines? Or were these a little “off?” Like a Victrola compared to an off brand upright like a Vitanola for example.

With such basic machines the sound was often just the same. Pathé machines were often more mechanically refined than Columbia machines of the same era.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ9KLgXZXtM[/youtube]