The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone here know where one of these uncommon machines is standing. A long time ago - if memory serves me correct - I saw a photo which apparently was made in a wood panelled room of an Italian collection / museum.

I am looking to find out what was the correct motor and tone-arm.

The cabinet in real life is quite fancy with different wood veneers and polished brass embelishments.

Thanks, grazie mille!

Even bottom-of-the-line gramophones in Italy are scarcer than saffron and truffles. Much scarcer, actually. The only serious museum that I can think of and might possibly have pieces of that rarity and glamour is the Museo Pelagalli, although I don't recall it having wood-paneled rooms:

http://www.museopelagalli.com/index_UK_INIZIO.htm

Are you sure you hadn't see it in the Phono Museum of Paris perhaps?

http://phonomuseum.fr/

I'd love to see some pictures of your incomplete machine. Especially if it still has the turntable and coin mechanism.

Marco Gilardetti wrote:Even bottom-of-the-line gramophones in Italy are scarcer than saffron and truffles. Much scarcer, actually. The only serious museum that I can think of and might possibly have pieces of that rarity and glamour is the Museo Pelagalli, although I don't recall it having wood-paneled rooms:

http://www.museopelagalli.com/index_UK_INIZIO.htm

Are you sure you hadn't see it in the Phono Museum of Paris perhaps?

http://phonomuseum.fr/

Thanks for the leads. museopelagalli definitely not.

Jalal also not

The motor is the issue...its missing. Which is why locating the complete one will be a huge boost, in that I see what I need to look for (or maybe already have?)

fingers crossed!

Sidewinder wrote:Does anyone here know where one of these uncommon machines is standing. A long time ago - if memory serves me correct - I saw a photo which apparently was made in a wood panelled room of an Italian collection / museum.

I am looking to find out what was the correct motor and tone-arm.

The cabinet in real life is quite fancy with different wood veneers and polished brass embelishments.

Thanks, grazie mille!

It may have been in Marco's collection in Italia.

Its a but buried in the basement under a few boxes, but here a sample.

IMPERATOR was a company that was originally a manufacturer of disc format music boxes.

gramophone78 wrote:It may have been in Marco's collection in Italia.

Unfortunately not, I'm afraid!

Marco Gilardetti wrote:

gramophone78 wrote:It may have been in Marco's collection in Italia.

Unfortunately not, I'm afraid!

Sorry, different Marco... .

For whatever it's worth, I have a "Swissie" type machine with Spanish dealer tags that has an Imperator reproducer. If you need a photo, I can provide one. The motor in my machine was either Thorens or Paillard, I forget which, a single-spring post-and-plate affair that wouldn't play a 12" record on a winding. I had it replaced with a similar two-spring motor that will handle a 12" record, but I kept the original in case I ever sold the machine and the buyer wanted it. Again, assuming I can dig it out, I'd be happy to provide a photo, but I can't imagine a machine as grand as the one under discussion would have come with such a wimpy motor.

drh wrote:For whatever it's worth, I have a "Swissie" type machine with Spanish dealer tags that has an Imperator reproducer. If you need a photo, I can provide one. The motor in my machine was either Thorens or Paillard, I forget which, a single-spring post-and-plate affair that wouldn't play a 12" record on a winding. I had it replaced with a similar two-spring motor that will handle a 12" record, but I kept the original in case I ever sold the machine and the buyer wanted it. Again, assuming I can dig it out, I'd be happy to provide a photo, but I can't imagine a machine as grand as the one under discussion would have come with such a wimpy motor.

Thanks would be very interested to see the reproducer .