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There is a shipping crate on Ebay for an Aeolian-Vocalian phonograph. The label on it shows a cord coming out of the front of the phonograph near the grill. Was this the power cord for it? Seems strange if it is.

IIRC, that's actually a remote volume control, which has a specific name that escapes me right now. Someone else will provide further details, I'm sure.

The corded volume control is know as the "Graduola."

Here's a video showing its usage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6OQHPWFwlY

OF

Graduola?

neilmack wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 7:26 pmGraduola?

As in "gradual"? God knows.....

There's a more detailed description in the brochure -- https://www.nipperhead.com/old/aeolian.htm (Click on the thumbnail images to make them full size for viewing/printing.)

OF

40 years of collecting phonographs and I have never came across something like this. You learn something new every day.

They pop up pretty regularly here on the East Coast. Here's a fellow using one:
George P.

Both my Edison Diamond Disc W-250 and my Brunswick 127 Japanese model had volume control knobs. But the knobs didn't pull out on the end of a cord.

Jim Nichol

True.... many off brands that I am most familiar with have a knob on the side of the cabinet [near the crank] or inside the turntable area. This knob is connected to a little wood shutter/panel that could be slid in or out of the internal horn passage, usually just underneath where the tone-arm mounts.

The Aeolian phonograph has quite a different approach! The phonographs are pretty neat and the cabinets are very attractive. Seems like they come on the market in "waves"..... I see a few and then I don't for a few months.... LOL.

Phono-Phan wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:37 pm 40 years of collecting phonographs and I have never came across something like this. You learn something new every day.

You've probably seen them and didn't realize it. The "Graduola" control is not always hanging out as you see it pictured here. When not in use, it slides back into the cabinet and just shows a small knob at the lower left corner of the grill.