The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I don't think I'd want the thing in my house, but i've never seen it before and it is kinda nice looking. Looks like an upright piano almost.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0405346332

FROM THE AUCTION:

I was told that this is a Premier Record Player that depicts a piano styling with cabinet below. I have never seen one like this any where else. I believe it is a very RARE piece. It was made in the early 1900's, I think about 1904. Cabinet is in good shape with a couple of scratches. It has been in my home on display till recently. There is a needle drawer, speed knob and crank. I do not have the key for the lower cabinet. The material in top does need some repair as it has a tear or has just come apart with age, as it is very old. This would be a great piece for some ones collection or a great display item. There is No Reserve. I will accept PayPal or (U.S.) cash upon pickup (in timely manner). I have been a collector of Victrolas and phonographs for many years and no longer have the space to keep them. It is an original. It will be a local Pickup Item only. Bidders inside the cont. U.S. only. If you have any questions feel free to E-mail. Thank You.

Well, he's way off on his date. 'Premier' was one of the 'post-1917' companies. I've seen a few of these pianos over the years, as well as other models. I just sold one recently -- an upright with a hinged half-lid and needle storage drawer. 'Premier' cabinets -- while typically unusual and sometimes intricate -- are rather light-weight affairs of veneer over secondary woods. They have a nasty habit of dropping off trim pieces and such, and de-laminating when the glue fails.

Kind of reminds me of the Columbia Symphony Grand Graphophone of 1907. That was Columbia's initial answer to the Victor Victrola.
FROM: http://books.google.com/books?id=QEkAAA ... ne&f=false

Edited --I finally figured out how to copy the whole add using the "Clip" feature on the Google books site. Click (or double-click) on the ad to open the full size copy--

Nice ad, Ortho!

Anyone have or hear one of these?

If my memory serves correct, I think Moo from the old board had one. I think it was the Columbia version & he did a spot light on it, on the old OTVMMB.

Here are a few photos of the one on the MrVictor -- http://mrvictor.com/ -- site:







He also has some photos of the Symphony model which came out at the same time as the Symphony Grand.

Over ten years ago, a couple of bald guys wrote a book called Discovering Antique Phonographs, which included photos of a Columbia "Symphony Upright." In 2001, their next book, Phonographs with Flair, was published. It included photos of a "Symphony Grand." I'm cut to the quick to learn that there are collectors still looking for antique phonographs without benefit of the knowledge contained in these and other books!

There are several examples of the "Symphony Grand" around. The "Symphony Upright" is rarer - - I know of only 2 examples.

George P.

The Symphony upright is a strange looking beast. I'm not surprise that so few remain.
Now that I see the Symphony grand, I think that Moo's was a different model/brand?? It looked prettier, althoght that might have been because his machine was oak.