The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm wondering what other in the group would do in this situation. I month or so ago, I purchased two machines....one an upright and the other a low, wide cabinet that looked like it was probably an amputee. The guy wanted them out of his store and offered both for $50, admitting that neither was in working condition. The upright is a Columbia E-2 with the tonearm, reproducer and needle cups missing. The motor does work but needs cleaning and lubrication. The cabinet, which appears to have a dark walnut finish, is in decent shape except for a piece of the lip around the top the the cabinet that is broken off near the back. The lid is in good shape.
The other machine is a Granada amputee and except for the crank (and the legs) appear to be otherwise complete. The Orthophonic reproducer is in reasonable shape with no cracks and a good diaphragm (needs bearing) so I guess I got my $50 worth with that alone. The Granada cabinet is beat up pretty bad and replacing the legs is beyond my woodworking skills so I'm inclined to part it out. I don't have a crank long enough so I have not tested the motor in the Granada. It is serial number 42757 and has a dealer decal for J.W. Jenkins Sons Music Co. inside the lid.
Any input will be appreciated.

Ordinarily I would say not to part out a machine but the Granada might need to die that the others might live. Or you could go ahead & make custom legs for it -- you can go on to a woodworking store & buy furniture legs, and I've wondered about what an amputee with table legs or something would look like. Maybe a crank will turn up; failing that (if you just want to make a player and not a perfectly accurately restored Victrola) I can send you a Garrard crank that you may have to re-thread, but it's long enough for a console machine.

The E-2 Grafonola, if it's in walnut, is worth restoring--Grafonolas sound better than they have any right to, with the big diaphragms. I have played early electrics on a 1920 D-2 that I fixed for my good friend the Monsignor, and it sounded just dandy. Consider you got it for $25-- if you'd have paid $50 for a walnut machine in project condition that's still nice.

What state are you in---I think I have a cabinet, I am in NJ.

I'm in Georgia. Another issue is that I really don't have room for the Granada. I think I can find a spot for the Columbia since it is upright but the Granada would be a big problem. I would be happy to give the machine to someone that wanted to mess with it but I would want to keep the reproducer for another project.