The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have had my eye on this machine for awhile and while visiting a friend in Seattle I finally decided to purchase it. A nice end table I think and a good machine. I need to get it lubed up a bit, but it plays well enough for now. And, it has a really old glass top that has protected the wood over the years. I don't know how old the glass is, but it is thick and beveled and follows the basic shape of the top of the machine.

The only issue I have found with it is that after bringing it home in my car on its side the drawer seems to not shut quite all the way. Something about ¼ inch is stopping the drawer in the back. I have to investigate, but it isn't visually a big deal for now and it plays just fine. Anyone have an idea of what might be blocking the drawer? Without turning the machine upside down it is nearly impossible to see what might be going on. I will get it apart soon.

Beautiful! Of course there are the columbia pull out drawer "desk" phonographs, but I've never seen one like that, the curvature along with the glass is very attractive. Congrats on the nice find.

Martin

Dan, I like your new machine... It's a nice one, especially with the custom glass top.

Your drawer issue could be as simple as part of a broken record stuck between the back of the drawer and the cabinet. Or, it could be a stack of $100 bills that someone hid back in the day... Can you remove the drawer without turning the machine upside down? Whatever it is, it's probably something simple obstructing it...

Good looking machine. Unlike Victor, Columbia recognized the desire of the public to use their talking machines for uses beyond playing records. Columbia does not get enough credit for being such an innovative company.

Jerry Blais

melvind wrote:The only issue I have found with it is that after bringing it home in my car on its side the drawer seems to not shut quite all the way. Something about ¼ inch is stopping the drawer in the back.

Thanks for sharing your new addition, Dan! Your drawer not closing all the way is almost surely something small inside the cabinet that was dislodged when it was on its side during the trip home. This exact thing happened to me after I purchased and brought home one of my Edison Amberola 1A phonographs. I got home and was checking everything out and found that the bottom drawer refused to close completely. My initial instinct was to push a little harder (yikes!) thinking the runner was simply dry or maybe even a little warped...but thankfully I refrained from adding a little extra force. I ended up carefully removing that bottom drawer and reached for a flashlight. And sure enough a small piece of a decades ago broken wax Amberol cylinder had dislodged from someplace inside the cabinet and ended up preventing the drawer from closing. I removed it and voila!

Doug

Nice end table

I think we should all take a guess at what could be stopping the drawer from fully closing.


Mine would be an empty needle tin.

What do you think everybody?

Dan,
Wow, a beautiful addition to your collection. That lamp is especially
beautiful sitting on top.
Congratulations from,
David & Lerria

Nice acquisition, Dan! I've always liked that model and would gladly trade our Grafonola Desk model for that one.
Cheers, Russie

Cool! I have always liked the Columbia Grafonolas - those desk and end table models are getting a little tough to find!

Enjoy!

I like your Baby Regent, Dan!

For many years I was guilty of describing the Regent as a "desk," but Columbia marketed it as a "library table." This makes more sense, because if you've ever tried to sit at a Regent...well... I'd be interested in seeing original Columbia advertising that describes the Regent as a "desk." I don't believe they ever did. The Baby Regent, however, is undeniably a table!

Congratulations, Dan - - Baby Regents are cool - -

George P.