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Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 3:05 pm
by sabstage
We recently acquired a working Columbia Grafonola Favorite with two doors. On the motor, there is a marking "173". Based on preliminary research, since it is the two door model, it would have been built between 1911(?) and 1915(?). We didn't know if the 173 marking could help date it better. Anyone have an idea? Thank you!
Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 4:25 pm
by Herderz
Mine is a little later year. they had to go with louvers for patent reasons. it is about 1916 I think. yours would be earlier in production.
Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite
Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:24 pm
by sabstage
Thank you!
Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 1:17 pm
by Orchorsol
Here in the UK I have a Columbia Savoy which looks just like your Favorite, with the doors rather than louvres - I don't know, but I suspect Savoy may be the name given to the US Favorite in the UK - I can't remember exactly what my sources of information were, but I believe the ones with doors were made from 1911 until sometime in 1912 when (as mentioned above) they changed to louvres, as the doors infringed the Victor patent.
I meant to photograph mine in daylight today but didn't get round to it - but here are a couple of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9gZP7PGdrA&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Z6deGA78g
Re: Dating Columbia Grafonola Favorite
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2021 8:10 pm
by sabstage
Orchorsol wrote: Sun Nov 21, 2021 1:17 pm
Here in the UK I have a Columbia Savoy which looks just like your Favorite, with the doors rather than louvres - I don't know, but I suspect Savoy may be the name given to the US Favorite in the UK - I can't remember exactly what my sources of information were, but I believe the ones with doors were made from 1911 until sometime in 1912 when (as mentioned above) they changed to louvres, as the doors infringed the Victor patent.
I meant to photograph mine in daylight today but didn't get round to it - but here are a couple of videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9gZP7PGdrA&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Z6deGA78g
Thank you for the information.