The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello All

I am new to the talking machine forum and I have to admit I am lacking in much knowledge. As a result I am looking for some information regarding the Columbia Gramophone, pictures of which I have attached. I got my son to lug it from the attic he says it weighs a ton!!!!. I flicked the little switch on the top by mistake when moving it and it started to turn, I have not wound in but it appears to be wound from both ends and has a key and two metal attachments. There is a hinged draw to the front on one side, I do not know it it all present and it could do with a clean. I have a number of horns and this example seems to fit measuring approx 33.5 inches long and 24.5 inches wide, there is a label which is difficult to read but mentions 'silk finish horn'. I can send more images if further detail is required.

I look forward to any information you can give regarding its date and use and are they common.

Yours Hopefully

Martin

Hello Martin, and welcome to the forum.
Your machine is a Columbia BC Century machine with a Higham (pronounced " Hig-am" I believe) reproducer. Here is an informative link regarding its development. I'm sure other members can give more advice concerning any restoration on this.

https://www.intertique.com/The%20uses%20of%20amber.htm

Bob

Hi Martin,

As Bob has pointed out, your machine is a Type BC Graphophone (a "Gramophone" is an entirely different machine). Your son is correct - they are back breakers.

Most BC reproducers have not aged well. The vulcanite (rubber) shoe tends to have hardened over the years, and we're usually lucky to get them to play adequately. Still, they're interesting pieces of technology.

The label of your horn is for Hawthorne & Sheble (pronounced "Sheh-blee"), the original supplier of horns to Columbia. Your horn is the original for the BC, which employed a larger orifice than typical horns for cylinder phonographs. These horns are quite rare - - more so than the BC itself (which still exist in surprisingly high numbers). The horn was originally supported by a floor stand; similar to a bird cage stand. If you look around in the attic, you may be fortunate enough to find it.

The BC is wound by inserting the crank through the escutcheon in the cabinet. Nothing else on the mechanism is wound. The two separate metal devices are an Edison reproducer and another part of one. They are unrelated to the BC and cannot be used on it.

Congratulations - the BC is a wonderful machine!

George P.

Hi

Thank you both for the information you have provided it is much appreciated.

Yours

Martin

Please be sure that you (and anyone else) NEVER try to pick any of these machines up by the handle on the lid. ALWAYS pick them up from under the bottom of the base cabinet, two handed.

The 120 year old wood should not be expected to bear the load, and often doesn’t, with tragic results to the machine and/or your foot!

You have a couple of quite-valuable machines there, and presuming that our members are already furtively and fervidly trying to pry them loose from you, keeping them in nice shape will be best for everyone. Where are you located?

I'm curious to know what the serial number is.

There must be a good story behind your amazing collection. I am sure that we would all like to read it.

Roger.

Hello Martin.
Great !!! machine. I inherited a similar BC but was vastly different to yours. It was a mess, with very little left of the cabinet and most of the upper mechanics seized. Over the years (30+) I have managed to get it working of sorts, but as others have pointed out their performance is not great and takes alot of patience to get working well. The BC takes the uncommon 6" long cylinders and plays for approximately 3 minutes. I have a 50" copper horn found with the machine and mount it on a reproduction floor stand as discussed. My machine is #555. This is stamped on a 3 circular plate on the left hand end, covering the upper gears. Has yours got a number? I am missing the lid, but one day I may get lucky.
Good luck and enjoy all your machines.
Brian

Hi Brian

I have had a look and the machine does have a number which is 307. It took me about an hour to figure out how to remove the lid when I first started looking at it.

Yours

Martin

The question was asked, Martin,where you are located. You answered in a different post. Still, it was easy to guess somewhere in the UK from your original post, which stated: "I do not know it it all present and it could do with a clean" (italics mine).