The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

HI All,

Was just wondering if anyone could help me identify this gramophone ?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Sinfonía was the brand name of gramophones made by the Spanish agency of Odeón and Fonotipia in Madrid, Calle Preciados, 1. I believe they made the cases only, the hardware being imported from Germany or Switzerland, and assembled in their workshops. They were good machines. This agency worked many years, probably since early 1900s to our civil war in 1936. The store was named LA MÁQUINA PARLANTE (the talking machine). They made albums too. I believe their heyday was during the era of the 11" Odeons and Fonotipias. More info needed...

Why is the soundbox facing the wrong way ?

Thank you very much Inigo. The pictures and info are very much appreciated. I was initially a little concerned thinking it could be a swapped parts machine.

Soundgen thanks for pointing out the soundbox is back to front.


Thanks again,
Chris

chrissydretro wrote:I was initially a little concerned thinking it could be a swapped parts machine. Thanks again,
Chris

Looks like a Victor tone-arm to me.

The "lifesavers" are distracting, but the lower support of the arm looks incomplete, as if it not the correct arm.
James.

Roaring20s wrote:

chrissydretro wrote:I was initially a little concerned thinking it could be a swapped parts machine. Thanks again,
Chris

Looks like a Victor tone-arm to me.

The "lifesavers" are distracting, but the lower support of the arm looks incomplete, as if it not the correct arm.

IMG_3135.jpg

James.

Indeed. If research turns up any surviving catalogs, we can see what the original tone arm looked like.

- Bill

Hi James,

Good to know, my knowledge on the horn gramophones is quite limited, but its great to get some learning's from the more experienced members on this platform. Would be interesting if anyone had a photo/reference of the correct period tone arm for this type of machine?

Thanks,
Chris

It's s bit difficult, these machines are rare even in Madrid. I'll try to locate a catalog in our National Library... Maybe they have any, digitised... Well come back later to report you.

After one day of investigation I've found some photos from a catalogue of the company that was sold last year in an auction site in Spain. Three of the images are of external horn gramophones similar to yours, but neither of them seem to be exactly as yours. I left the images herein for you to examine thoroughly your machine to see any details that might be recognisable. The catalog must have had more models, but only these three were published on the site. Let's hope they are somewhat useful... Although the metal ornaments on these look different from yours...
Maybe the measurements of the cases help somehow...

Good work, Inigo!

So, the tonearm is attached without lower support. It's just not the correct type of tonearm.
I tried looking for other examples with a similar configuration, but found none.

James.