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CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 12:01 pm
by flying500
Does anyone have any information on CELEBRO Gramophones. They appear to have produced an ORCHORSOL clone (or at least the soundbox) but I have not found any information anywhere, or for that matter any real data on the Orchorsol company products through the years.
If anyone has any information I would really appreciate it.

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Sat May 02, 2020 4:15 am
by Orchorsol
Very interesting. It does seem to be a "badge engineered" Orchorsol. I've never seen or heard of one before. Do you have the whole gramophone?

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Sat May 02, 2020 2:41 pm
by Oedipus
I was due to reveal all about Celebro at a CLPGS London meeting this summer, but I doubt that will happen now.

It was a product of Celebritone Ltd, which was registered in 1928 and seems to have changed ownership two or three times before being taken over by Orchorsol in July 1931. The Celebro name itself was registered in September 1929. The only Celebro machine I have seen is identical to an Orchorsol portable, apart from the different mask on the sound box.

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 7:03 pm
by flying500
Unfortunately I only have the soundbox. I am quite taken with the 'Orchorsol' but there does not seem to be much information available, or to be found by me.
I have seen several of the cabinet models with the wooden arm and I own a cabinet model with a metal swan neck arm and Mica diaphragm soundbox. It also has quite a long length curled metal horn, unlike the other models which seem to have quite a simple wooden item.
Again I would like to know more about their product range and history?

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 7:09 pm
by flying500
Oedipus,
Thank you for the Celebritone revelation! Do you have any photos of the Celebro machine or indeed any catalogue illustrations etc from the Orchorsol range?
I was hoping to get to CLPGS London meetings this year having recently joined.
all the Best
Jerry

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Mon May 04, 2020 2:52 pm
by Oedipus
Here are a couple of pics of the Celebro. As you can see, the 'elbow' from the tone-arm goes some way into the horn; I can't see how far. This one is missing the three springs and the clamp from the 'lifebelt'; I am not sure that it ever had the clamp. Some versions of this sound box, as used by Orchorsol, have three adjusting screws of course, hence the'self-adjusting on this one, though I have seen the same three spring arrangement on an Orchorsol portable. Whether that said'self adjusting' on the front, I do not know.

I have no Orchorsol catalogues, and know only that the name was registered in 1922, and the machine was favoured by Compton Mackenzie until EMG swept all before it.

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 4:39 am
by Orchorsol
Unfortunately when searching for Orchorsol references here on the forum, my 'name' on here confuses the issue - sorry about that!

Here are a couple of past threads:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=37197
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=27424

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 2:40 pm
by flying500
That's Great to see a Celebro at last. It is exactly the same as my orchorsol portable except for the soundbox. Even down to the Garrard auto stop.
Was this one for sale or do you know the owner.
I am probably imagining it but the Makers /pat marks on the lifebelt look identical to the Orchorsol item.(its not in view enough to be clear)
I will have to keep an eye out for a Celebro for myself.
Hopefully somebody out there has some more information about either or both makers.

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Tue May 05, 2020 2:42 pm
by flying500
I must admit I do like the 'Strange' Trademark!

Re: CELEBRO Gramophone ORCORSOL clone?

Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 11:20 am
by Enrico
Hi everyone,

I do have a Celebro sounbox too (not sure to have the gramophone too) and also these Fitonal and Listrolia sounboxes.

All the best,
Enrico