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Is this an Oxford?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:10 am
by MikeB
I got this front mount parts machine and needed to identify. The label inside identifies it as a Type BW. Is this a Columbia/Oxford machine that was sold through catalogues? It resembles a Standard in many ways.
Thanks.
Re: Is this an Oxford?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 9:50 am
by Jerry B.
Wasn't "Oxford" used by Sears to name their client machines? I believe "Oxford" or "Oxford Junior" was used for both cylinder machines made by Columbia and disc machines made by Zonophone. Your cabinet looks like a Talk-O-Phone cabinet. I believe Talk-O-Phone assets were acquired by Columbia as a result of a legal settlement. I bet your cabinet was part of that settlement. It would have been simple to drill a new cabinet and fill it with unmarked Columbia hardware and sold to Sears.
Jerry B.
Re: Is this an Oxford?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:12 pm
by Phono-Phan
Are there any markings behind the reproducer diaphragm?
Re: Is this an Oxford?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:29 pm
by MikeB
Thanks, Jerry. Yes, it does look like a Talk-o-phone cabinet. I had not thought of that.
As I remember, the reproducer looks like a plain unmarked Columbia long-throat, like those I think I've seen on Standard machines. It's filthy, though, so I will have another look at it in case I've missed something.
I found a machine referenced as a BW Oxford, but not the same machine:
https://www.intertique.com/BWOxfordID.html
Re: Is this an Oxford?
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 10:00 pm
by Jerry B.
Here's a similar machine from my collection. It looks like a similar cabinet but finished as a rear mount unmarked client machine.
Jerry B.
Re: Is this an Oxford?
Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2022 8:52 am
by zonophpones7
It is a Talk-o-phone Brooke cabinet with Columbia motor, tone arm and reproducer. After Columbia used them out of existence I believe they got all of the assets, including unused cabinets...cabinets... so the. Option of being a client machine makes sense to me.
Gregg