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I came across this red color Columbia viva tonal gramophone Model-211A. It works. I could not find any red color models of this gramophone on the internet after an extensive search. Is it rare compared to black color models? Any thoughts about the value of it?

Experts will come to help soon... But in the meanwhile I'll say that it seems rarer than the black models. I've not seen many late Columbia portables in coloured finish. At least it's sure that it's s beauty, and performs rather well. I've read herein that sound quality is similar to the famous hmv102. These little marvels, starting with the hmv101, conceal a really long horn inside, near 3 feet, but prolong the horn in some extent by the open angled life, etc. So maybe they have the equivalent to a 4 feet horn, which is more than the tabletops of the orthophonic era. No miracle then that they sound as well or better than them. Specially if you place the portable on the floor, in the corner of a room, and sit on an armchair at a certain distance from the machine, the sound is still further enhanced by the floor and walls! I usually listen to portables on a table, in a small room, and at one side of the horn... yet I always marvel at how well they perform.
Enjoy your machine!

Inigo wrote:These little marvels, starting with the hmv101, conceal a really long horn inside, near 3 feet, but prolong the horn in some extent by the open angled life, etc. So maybe they have the equivalent to a 4 feet horn, which is more than the tabletops of the orthophonic era.

Whilst this true of the HMV 101 and 102, it definitely does not apply to this or any other of HMVs' cheaper models, i.e, the 97, 87 and 88, along with their Columbia equivalents, the 204, 205, and 211. On these models the horn only goes to the front of the case, and from there on the sound is carried by bits of bent cardboard!! Neverthe less this seems to work, as all the above models sound acceptable, though nowhere near the quality of the 102. In all my years of collecting HMV and Columbia machines, I've never come across a red 211, so it seems that this is indeed a rare beast.

Barry

Even "His Master's Gramophone" makes no mention of a red 211. It gives the post war versions as black, blue and green.

Congratulations on your new Columbia portable gramophone
Since seriously starting collecting gramophones during the summer of 2019, Columbia gramophones have become a favorite of mine, and I always enjoy seeing a new and rare color still turning up after all these years. You might find it interesting to have a look at this thread, where your Columbia 211 portable is listed, but you will also see that the color "red" is not yet listed, and when setting up this list I also received lots of help from the Columbia experts, and some have already have answered to your thread. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=44585

I will update the listing in the next few days, so the "red" color also is added for this Columbia 211 portable. As you understand your portable is not exactly well known, since it was not listed in this index (put up by us collectors here on the forum according to our best and current knowledge). So thanks a lot for sharing your photos !

What is the date code on the label under the turntable (in front of the serial number, e.b. B/3 for 1939?

Thanks, Inigo, Barry, and epigramophone, for valuable inputs.

nostalgia wrote:Congratulations on your new Columbia portable gramophone
Since seriously starting collecting gramophones during the summer of 2019, Columbia gramophones have become a favorite of mine, and I always enjoy seeing a new and rare color still turning up after all these years. You might find it interesting to have a look at this thread, where your Columbia 211 portable is listed, but you will also see that the color "red" is not yet listed, and when setting up this list I also received lots of help from the Columbia experts, and some have already have answered to your thread. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=44585

I will update the listing in the next few days, so the "red" color also is added for this Columbia 211 portable. As you understand your portable is not exactly well known, since it was not listed in this index (put up by us collectors here on the forum according to our best and current knowledge). So thanks a lot for sharing your photos !

I appreciate your efforts in documenting all the Columbia models. This is my first Columbia portable model, while my other models are HMV 102 in red and blue color. I also came across a red color Columbia viva tonal model 55. However, I didn't buy it. I have a photo if you need it for documentation purposes.

Oedipus wrote:What is the date code on the label under the turntable (in front of the serial number, e.b. B/3 for 1939?

Thank you. That is 1958!

Message to Columbiaphiles!
For sale on E-Bay there's a record-album from a Columbia portable...