The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

There’s a Columbia Grafonola 50 at an auction near me and it looks like it’s in pretty good shape. I’m still new, so I just wanted to get some opinions on how much it might be worth. Thanks!

I bought one several years ago at an antique show for $150, but I have no idea what the current market would be. It looks like a nice machine, but less is more as they say, so the cheaper the better... I like mine and it plays well, but personally I wouldn't pay more than $225 tops for one. Just my opinion...

Don't pay huge money for it--the market does not do much for Grafonolas. However, that's because the 50 was a popular, well-built machine that survived in massive numbers, not because it's no good. I think the Favorite came out in 1915 but I am not sure.

There is potmetal used on the tonearm and the reproducer will need to be rebuilt. That potmetal elbow can be replaced with brass if you need it changed, and the good thing is, with such a massive diaphragm, this will have an incredible sound.

Get ready to fix motors, though. It carries a triple-spring motor that probably weighs about as much as some small phonographs! Find a good sturdy table to stand this machine on. Have fun--the phonographs of the 1910s and '20s have a real grandmother's-attic charm to them and were built well enough to play nicely with only a tiny bit of tuning up.

The inside motor plate and the inside of the lid appear to be fumed oak. The outside appears to have a faded appearance. Fumed oak is considered to be a little more desireable by some collectors, except the dark color may not be easy to bring back. Cheers, Russie

Unless you plan to sell it, it't worth depends on how badly you want it. I am a sucker for Oak and I think that it tends to command a higher price. It's a nice machine with a big motor and lots of style.

Django wrote:Unless you plan to sell it, it't worth depends on how badly you want it. I am a sucker for Oak and I think that it tends to command a higher price. It's a nice machine with a big motor and lots of style.

Agreed, Oak machines just add a little something for me as well. I had never owned a 50 until a couple years ago when I got one as part of a collection purchase. The one I wound up with was in really nice condition and had been stored in a basement that was thankfully rather dry for about 50 years with many others. The tonearm elbow is really the only thing you need to be mindful of. They swell and can break if you aren't careful getting them apart. Mine was frozen solid and after careful freezer and penetrating oil, it came apart fine. Clean the joints, a little oil and that was that. Rebuilt the reproducer, cleaned up the cabinet, lubed the motor and it's a great machine. Mine's Mahogany and I still like it! Sounds great, too.

Sean