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Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 5:52 pm
by Curt A
This machine is an apparent European clone of a Columbia B, mounted on a board which becomes the lid of a box when flipped over. There are no markings on it, except for an oval with the letters N and S stamped in the center... Any ideas?
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:28 am
by poodling around
Curt A wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 5:52 pm
This machine is an apparent European clone of a Columbia B, mounted on a board which becomes the lid of a box when flipped over. There are no markings on it, except for an oval with the letters N and S stamped in the center... Any ideas?
Screen Shot 2021-07-14 at 5.45.13 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-07-14 at 5.44.10 PM.png
Screen Shot 2021-07-14 at 5.43.14 PM.png
I don't collect phonographs (
yet) and know nothing about them but I think that this is genuinely the nicest I have ever seen. Great design.
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:50 am
by Curt A
ANYBODY have ANY ideas???
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 12:50 pm
by CarlosV
I have a French phonograph - Le Charmeur - that resembles the one on the photo above, but it does not have the SN marking.
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:18 pm
by Ahmed
Curt A wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:50 am
ANYBODY have ANY ideas???
To my knowledge, that is a common design and mechanism used by a fair few French off brands. Here's my example sold by Ulman
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:04 pm
by Curt A
Thanks, Carlos & Ahmed... Do those machines take a gutta percha or aluminum reproducer and do you have pics of them?
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:24 pm
by Ahmed
Curt A wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:04 pm
Thanks, Carlos & Ahmed... Do those machines take a gutta percha or aluminum reproducer and do you have pics of them?
Unfortunately mine came with a replacement Pathé reproducer, however a fellow collector had provided the attached showing the original reproducer with an aluminium diaphragm
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:31 pm
by Curt A
Are those aluminum ones with a spider difficult to find in Europe?
Does anyone have a reproducer similar to the one pictured above that they might part with?
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:34 pm
by Ahmed
Curt A wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:31 pm
Are those aluminum ones with a spider difficult to find in Europe?
I've not come across them in the UK, but would assume they're not too difficult to find in France.
Re: Help needed to identify this machine
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:43 pm
by Curt A
Thanks, Ahmed. The only type I seem to find on French eBay are Pathé...