The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello! I am new to the group. I have what I think is an antique (maybe British) gramophone pedestal. My parents recently passed away and I now have it. Would love anyone who could help me identify it! I am in the US so was wondering if it really is British??

British, and worth a good chunk of money. A couple models were made by the gramophone and typewriter co (G & T). One in black meant for the Melba gramophone, and yours meant for a Senior Monarch gramophone. I think the were made between approx 1903-1905, but some of the more experienced collectors will no doubt have better more accurate info than I can provide

Here is the complete outfit (not mine) for sale on UK eBay. The pedestals often outlasted the gramophones, as they were still useful as storage cupboards and plant stands. Sometimes they are offered for sale with their original purpose unrecognised.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gramophone-T ... SwZ9ZgIQdT

And gods! How beautiful it is! You will need to restore it a bit, and buy a suitable gramophone and records to put it again into its former glory and use!
Enjoy it!

A very nice example! Including its brass lion heads no less.

Actually not really British it was made by Max Bohme & Co. of Dippoldiswalde in Germany. They were made for the various branches of the Gramophone Company in Europe including Britain.

Just incase you didn't know the attractive circular ivorene plaque shows the Recording Angel which was the trademark often placed on machines, records and equipment like this before the 'His Master's Voice' trademark replaced it around 1909. In America Victor started using the HMV trademark much more quickly.

Now you just have to find a nice Victor Special machine to sit on it.

epigramophone wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 11:32 am Sometimes they are offered for sale with their original purpose unrecognised.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gramophone-T ... SwZ9ZgIQdT

I can't say I've ever been lucky enough to find one that way and seriously doubt I ever will. As antique shops rapidly disappear from UK shores the chances reduce from very slim to nil.

I dont believe my parents knew what it was. They called it the music cabinet. I think they would have bought it in the 70's in Ohio. I assume the gramophone would also be hard to come by in the US?

drewnem02 wrote: Thu Feb 25, 2021 4:59 pm I dont believe my parents knew what it was. They called it the music cabinet. I think they would have bought it in the 70's in Ohio. I assume the gramophone would also be hard to come by in the US?

Not the Victor Monarch Special (MS). You'll find plenty of those in the States but they're pricey in good condition.

The Gramophone & Typewriter Co. Senior Monarch is even plentiful on these shores and cheaper than the Victor version.

The best thing you could do would be to sell me the pedestal for my Senior Monarch and then I'd be saving you the worry and potential cost of completing your stand. You don't have to thank me!

Thanks everyone for the information. One last question, should I have it insured? If so how would I determine how much. I looked and have not seen the stand alone.

A ball park figure for insurance would be 2000 GBP. I had an identical one ( stand only ) which I sold about five years ago , the internal dividers were missing as is often the case and the lions head masks had been replaced with modern copies . There were also some splits in the panels. So overall some condition issues but still attractive enough for a collector as the price I asked reflected that . It sold for 1600 GBP