The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Two weeks ago I received these three machines. Fun to have an Eagle, the BO is restored so looks like new and the Columbia Vivatonal portable just needs some cleaning outside. I did the inside already. A question about the phrase place inline. What does that mean? Neil

Have no idea what "inline" means. Those are sharp looking machines (all). Is your BO a 2 and 4 minute player? Steve L.

All look like fine acquisitions. The BO is one of the more unusual of the Columbia back bracket models. The Eagle is one of George Paul's favorite machines so you're in the "George Paul Eagle Club." And I bet the Grafonola sounds wonderful. Congratulations!

Jerry Blais

Holy Molie! Those are all nice machines, nice find! Can't answer your question about "Phrase Place Inline". Is it really "Please Place Inline"? Cheers, Russie

Jerry B. wrote: The Eagle is one of George Paul's favorite machines so you're in the "George Paul Eagle Club."

George P.

vansteem78 wrote:A question about the phrase place inline. What does that mean? Neil

I'm assuming you're seeing this when you're attaching photos to a post. If you just attach the photos, they go to the end of the post by default. If you want the photo to appear in the middle of the post somewhere, click where you want the photo to go, then choose the photo from the dropdown and click "place inline".

Steve Levi wrote:Have no idea what "inline" means. Those are sharp looking machines (all). Is your BO a 2 and 4 minute player? Steve L.

It appears to have the 2/4 minute changing lever on the feedscrew... unless I am mistaken...

Neil,
Nice machines... you seem to find some great stuff. I had one of those Viva-Tonal portables and they sound better than most portables I have heard...

Steve Levi wrote:Have no idea what "inline" means. Those are sharp looking machines (all). Is your BO a 2 and 4 minute player? Steve L.

Yes the BO is 2 and 4 minute mechanism. Though only playing celluloid because I notice a lot of wax on the tip after being played.

Wow! You sure have some nice machines. I had a Viva Tonal just like yours. I bought it from the late Floyd Silver, but sold it a few years later for financial reasons.

That machine really puts out the bass and really sounds good on later 20’s electrically recorded records. The best I remember, I bought some gaskets from a seller in the U.K. and rebuilt it, that thing to me sounded like a good console. One thing I have noticed with Columbia Viva Tonal is that you don’t see many of the consoles, but more of the portables. I think most Viva Tonal recordings were played and enjoyed on the portable.