The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My one & only Columbia machine is a table-model, circa 1914 ( Jewel / 35? ).

I cannot find a maker's plate or serial number...

Did Columbia not use a data plate like Victor & Edison ?

Am I missing something obvious ?

DS Frank

Columbia disc machines didn't use data plates

Is there a permanent place where the machine has a serial number ?

( Or would it have been on a paper label ? )

No, Columbia machines did not have serial numbers at all, many did not even have model numbers anywhere on the machine. This makes it very difficult to track or date them. Your best chance to find information are old catalogs or magazines like the Music Trade Review http://www.arcade-museum.com/mtr/. Another source is Robert Baumbach's "Columbia Phonograph Companion VOL.II" which unfortunately is out of print, but sometimes shows up on ebay.
Andreas

Thanks for the responses....

I will see if I can track-down Baumbach's Columbia book...


When I was still in my teens, some older collectors "warned me about Columbia machines"(mostly about their extensive use of pot-metal), so I genernally haven't sought them out over the years.

There was one very nice oak Grafonola Grand(?) upright that I regret not getting.


My "Jewel" "was there", and the price was reasonable, so I grabbed it.


Regards,

DS Frank

I collect Columbias. I go after the early ones that use the nickel plated brass, one piece tone arms. They look and play good. Pot metal is not used in those early machines.
Harvey Kravitz

Harvey,

I think mine is as you describe, the tone-arm is one-piece and hinges back at the flange on the motorboard.

I wish I could remember more distinctly exactly what issues were told to me... I just remember vague reference to "pot-metal" and "exploding motors"...

The only motor issue exhibited by my "Jewel" is flaking of the governor weights...

Frank

I think the book "From Tinfoil to Stereo" had a lot of bias against Columbia and pretty much influenced collector's opinions for many years. In reality if you look at crumbling Victor Orthophonic reproducers, frozen Edison mandrel bearings, and other pot metal headaches, I don't see why Columbia machines are any worse. Their cabinets are usually well designed and made, and Columbia motors are strong and reliable. They were one of the three big players after all and had many patents Edison or Victor would have loved to own.
Andreas

There's one big flaw in the construction of most Columbia tone arms- no bearings. They rely on a friction fit which means that if it's tight enough to prevent sound leakage there's a lot of wear on the record. If they're loose enough to move freely they can leak sound. If the Grafonola arm had incorporated ball or roller bearings it would be a great design- otherwise the machines are very well built.

BTT