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Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:24 am
by epigramophone
This machine comes with two soundboxes, a Columbia No.9 (correct for a very early 202) and an unusual one which I do not recognise. Any thoughts?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Colu ... %7Ciid%3A1
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 9:47 am
by Curt A
I don't know what the mystery reproducer is, but I like it...
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:24 pm
by epigramophone
Now we have another mystery. The unusual spare soundbox has disappeared from the listing without a word from the seller.
The machine has already been relisted once and is now even less likely to sell.
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:33 pm
by phonosandradios
That second soundbox seems to be back again and appears both in the pictures and the description. Perhaps they need to make their mind up!
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:44 am
by Dulcetto
Whatever the extra sound-box comes from , I really can't see this 202 selling at £ 225 ! What planet are these people on ?? !! But I suppose the easy answer to that question is the seller is just not aware of likely selling prices for an example of that model

Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 5:35 am
by Inigo
Now it's off again. But the soundbox seems to have some lettering on the back, albeit unreadable in the photos...
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:03 am
by soundgen
soundbox is now for sale !
According to a collector, this is " possibly a "VIRTZ"soundbox made by a jeweller in the 1920s. He often scratched the type of music to be played by the soundbox on the backplate, as they were tuned for certain types of music"
I have looked for something scratched on this but cannot find anything other than "British Make" stamped into the back. It does look like the rear bayonet is a later replacement as there is a 2nd hole next to the bayonet screw.
Please have a listen to it playing & judge the tone for yourself as I have no more information about this item.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Gram ... SwTzpfWhfo
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:06 am
by soundgen
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 7:49 am
by epigramophone
The collector who identified the soundbox as possibly by Virtz is a good friend of mine, and a fellow forum member, who knows his soundboxes.
I see that despite the soundbox now being listed separately, the price of the gramophone has not been correspondingly reduced. No wonder it is not selling.
Re: Mystery soundbox.
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 9:24 am
by Orchorsol
The Virtz possibility is interesting, but neither the suspension nor the tonearm mounting seem to show any development beyond ordinary soundbox designs. I suspect this may be an example of a standard soundbox of the type that Harry Virtz modified, rather than a Virtz one as such. Anyone's guess though - how many times do we wish we had a time machine (other than the glorious gramophones we all enjoy, that is)?!