New Find: Decca 66 Portable... With Questions

[JerryVan]

Just happened across the this today on FB Marketplace, about 5 miles from my home. It came with several nice needle tins as well. I am weak...

The reproducer is not correct. What is the correct one? The Meltrope style, with "D E C C A" cut in the face plate, or the "Telesmatic" reproducer? And naturally, does anybody have one for sale? (I'll post in the "Wanteds" too, when I know what to ask for.

Thanks!

[nostalgia]

Congratulations with a great find, Jerry:) I recognize the weakness too, and also the good feeling when finding a new gramophone/phonograph. I am sure you very soon will get some advice concerning the soundbox, since this is outside my comfort zone. I do not yet own a Decca, but read with interest the information posted here on the forum about the early Decca portables.

[Phono48]

The correct soundbox is the Telesmatic, but most of the survivors have the rubber connecting tube on the back missing.

Barry

[gramophoneshane]

So the flap at the back covers the horn opening, and tilts forward to open it?

[JerryVan]

So the flap at the back covers the horn opening, and tilts forward to open it?

That flap is actually the horn and is solidly attached. It projects sound towards the concave back panel which then reflects it forward.

[OrthoFan]

I once saw a cut-away patent drawing of this model, and the tone chamber is VERY long and seems to follow an exponential taper. With the right restored soundbox this should perform very well.

I spotted this one online -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCzMMW1M1Gw

Others -- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... gramophone+

I'd say a Decca-branded Meltrope soundbox would be a fitting upgrade.

OrthoFan

[JerryVan]

I once saw a cut-away patent drawing of this model, and the tone chamber is VERY long and seems to follow an exponential taper. With the right restored soundbox this should perform very well.

I spotted this one online -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCzMMW1M1Gw

Others -- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... gramophone+

I'd say a Decca-branded Meltrope soundbox would be a fitting upgrade.

OrthoFan

O.K. That explains a lot. I saw a predominance of the Meltrope style but a few of the Telesmatic also. The reproducer that's on it now sounds very good. The problem is, it's so big, that even with the needle removed, the lid won't close all the way.

Thanks everyone for your input! If anyone has more to tell however, please do so!

[Orchorsol]

Great to find one of these your side of the pond! I have one myself. I find it one of the more interesting, unusual and attractive Deccas and it performs pretty well. I have a spare Telesmatic soundbox! I'll reply to your trader post.

[OrthoFan]

So the flap at the back covers the horn opening, and tilts forward to open it?

Hi Shane:

Adding a little more to the information Jerry provided, I finally located the patent drawings I mentioned in my post above on the European Patent Database site--which I found after a search for 280097.

As you can see, the horn is very complicated compared to the earlier bowl in lid models, with the conduit traveling from the back to the front to the back, and then up to the bowl in the lid:

FROM: https://worldwide.espacenet.com

OrthoFan

[epigramophone]

The CLPGS http://www.clpgs.org.uk publishes a 25 page booklet on Decca portables, Number 35 in their Reference Series.

The 66, announced in October 1927 at £4.17s.6d, was the first in a new range of portables which eventually comprised in price order the 22, 33, 44, 55, 66 and 88. There was no 77. After WW2 the 66 designation was revived for a new model in distinctive two tone colour schemes, a popular machine which remained in production until the late 1950's and is commonly found today.