The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I’m considering selling my very rare English Bassanophone. This spectacular early internal-horn machine, with patent dates of 1909, is unique in a number of ways. Made for and sold by Harrods department store in England as a luxury item, it boasts of extremely high build quality throughout. The cabinet has inlay and it retains its original French-polished finish. The enormous, glamorous, nickel-plated motor works beautifully and shows itself off by simply lifting the turntable and removing the wood cover. The most remarkable aspect of this early and ahead-of-it’s-time machine is the integrated tonearm assembly. Beautifully engineered and aesthetically fascinating, it incorporates a semi-automatic brake (which works quite well!) which I believe predates Victor/HMV’s semi-automatic brake. The cabinet has some aging and wear but it’s rock solid and moves quite easily on it’s working casters. Amazingly, the legs show no damage or repair (I know at least one example in the UK missing its legs). I’m aware of only a handful of survivors in the UK and none here in the US. If you are looking for a sophisticated machine that’s more interesting than, say, a Victor L-door, and you can pickup in the Southern California area, let me know. I thought I would never conceive of selling this, but certain circumstances have me entertaining the idea. Sorry, no trades. The idea is to make room! I’ll be at the APS show in Buena Park this weekend and I will not be bringing it unless I have it pre-sold.

Thanks,
-John

Cool! How much is it?

The brake looks cool on it.