The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've always been interested in the various small machines- Thorens portables, odd tabletops, etc, so let's see some of yours!

You may want to check our UK & European and "Machines" section. There are already some great multi-page threads going strong on this subject in both these sections. We have a "search" button that can take you to some great threads regarding some of your current questions and interests.

Here is just one for you to enjoy: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18333&hilit=picnic+phonograph

Hope this helps.

My Berliner toy gramophone. It works, just need the records.
Blain

Some small ones...

Jerry B.

They might be a little small to see but this is where I keep some of my smalls.....

Jerry B. wrote: Thu Oct 21, 2021 12:03 am Some small ones...

Jerry B.

that's gotta be one of the strangest horns I've seen on any cylinder phono

Here's maybe the smallest working machine, erroneously labelled "Miniature Old-Fashioned Victrola" by the maker in 1983.
Here's a link to it playing:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5j4bblmhijmmx ... a.mp4?dl=0
Bob

Those Poynter machines are pretty nifty.

I got a good deal on a Gem Model A, keywind style with the banner decal and green oak case, recently & am to take delivery of it soon; it needs help mechanically but the outside looks like it will clean up nicely without requiring a refinish. Nice & original. I did get to handle it before purchase & these things are adorable.

Edison Gems are about the size of a box of cigars but not quite as smokey. I'd suggest save up for the maroon Gem with two-piece Gem horn--if properly attuned they are nice to play an occasional record on, mostly as demonstration pieces. It will be a great display platform for some kind of really interesting horn.

The small phonographs I'd like to find are the Stewart round machine, the Vanophone cast-iron tabletop, the Little Wonder, and the Columbia Q on aftermarket base. They're just nice little shelf-sitters but can still play nicely, and with mostly metal construction it's easy to make them look good. Should start looking to buy a small Oxford BV Graphophone to go with the Gem--the smallest, cutest Columbia-built machine with a case.

Columbia also made fascinating openworks Standard Talking Machines, small Graphophones, and more.

I sure do like those Stewart machines. Anything that's at least a little unique always catches my eye. It's really a shame how some of those off brands are really just the same, though. Always nice to see one that's a bit different

Stewarts are not super rare, but finding them with good tonearms is harder than it should be--the pot-metal parts used often got smashed when things fell on them. They're kinda clanky-rattly feeling and do not feel like quality, but they do look handsome and can play acceptably when in good trim.

OK I am an idiot; I forgot to bring up the Oxford phonographs.

Oxford was the Sears catalog brand before the introduction of the Silvertone in 1916. All right, that's boring. But they were built both by Columbia and--occasionally, in the case of their open horn disc machines--by Victor Talking Machine. Oxfords are quirky-looking little phonographs with a fun legacy from the Sears catalog.

You'll like this website; it's a fairly casual place to learn about some interesting & unique machines. Intertique also has phonographs for sale if you get to feeling spendy; I've never bought one of theirs but some here have--and they always have some fascinating machines for a bit of window shopping (with sound samples, too.)

Also--if you can get an invite to see a nice collection do so. Seeing early disc phonographs is a great way to visualize just how cute they were originally. In the 1890s and early 1900s, when 78s were the size of CDs or a trifle bigger, the phonographs often had 7" and 8" turntables. So they are made to be adorably tiny (which led to them being annoyingly tinny but most 1896-1902 machines are not really being used heavily.) And to play them you can get brand-new 78s and hear them as they would have sounded. Not great, but not bad.

https://www.intertique.com/MailOrderMysteries.html

Great, now I want an Oxford.