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Mike Bryan, the Auction Manager on the CAPS Executive, did show and tell with an unusual Apollo portable from his collection at the last CAPS meeting the other day. It was a very eccentric machine, strangely beautiful and highly impractical and awkward. His presentation was quite fun.

I found a picture online of a machine very similar to his, except that his was of a darker wood, something the person he bought it from said was teak. The machine sits vertically and unfolds and reassembles, sort of like a Transformer from the kids TV series. It has a reflecting horn. Most curious. Most unusual.

Also available in leathercloth :

Oh WOW, this is soo cool! Another unobtainable item for my want list
Thanks for sharing!

Andreas

Here are a couple of video clips of similar machines in action.

Unfortunately, neither clip shows what is really interesting about the machine, its opening and assembly.


https://youtu.be/n1oYgWo83e8


https://youtu.be/rCRD1GTILSo

Early Apollo portables were very similar to the Decca, except that the 'deflector' in the lid was square and made of wood, and the tone-arm had to be detached when not in use (the Decca's system of folding the arm into the deflector was patented).
The Folding Apollo, of about 1922, got round the latter problem by creating space for a permanent tone-arm underneath the deflector. It also created a cabinet that, when folded up, was actually easier to carry than the near-cube of the early Deccas and Apollos. When folded, its dimensions are very similar to the later, hugely successful, HMV 101. As Roger says, they came in black cloth as well as teak, and Guido's in the YouTube video appears to be oak. But teak seems the most common variant.

The October CAPS meeting has been posted on Youtube.

Here's the Apollo demo:

https://youtu.be/j7DCx64kk5U?t=1884

There's really nothing odd about the size or proportion of the cabinet. They have a conventional carrying handle and as Oedipus says, they're similar to a 101 size. The odd part comes when you stand it on its end and unfold it.

Sadly I don't think the video clip or presentation does it justice. It makes it appear incredibly cumbersome and impractical when it's far from it. If he wants to unload it I'll gladly take it off his hands!

Steve wrote: Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:10 am There's really nothing odd about the size or proportion of the cabinet. They have a conventional carrying handle and as Oedipus says, they're similar to a 101 size. The odd part comes when you stand it on its end and unfold it.

Sadly I don't think the video clip or presentation does it justice. It makes it appear incredibly cumbersome and impractical when it's far from it. If he wants to unload it I'll gladly take it off his hands!

I sincerely doubt that it is for sale. It seems to be a relatively new addition to his collection, and he seems quite pleased with it.

But ... who knows ... the right offer ... the right trade .... the right offer and trade?

His contact info is on the front page of the CAPS website.

https://www.capsnews.org

Lah Ca wrote: Sun Nov 27, 2022 9:19 am

Steve wrote: Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:10 am There's really nothing odd about the size or proportion of the cabinet. They have a conventional carrying handle and as Oedipus says, they're similar to a 101 size. The odd part comes when you stand it on its end and unfold it.

Sadly I don't think the video clip or presentation does it justice. It makes it appear incredibly cumbersome and impractical when it's far from it. If he wants to unload it I'll gladly take it off his hands!

I sincerely doubt that it is for sale. It seems to be a relatively new addition to his collection, and he seems quite pleased with it.

But ... who knows ... the right offer ... the right trade .... the right offer and trade?

His contact info is on the front page of the CAPS website.

https://www.capsnews.org

Oh, thank you. As you say, it's not for sale but I presume in the spirit of collector shared enthusiasm he might not be offended if I ask. I'll give it a go! Thanks again!