The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Apollo, the brand name of Craies & Stavridi of London, made some attractive machines using mainly Paillard components.
I particularly like the brass horn on this example, but the outrageous 35.94% Buyer's Premium and the 300 mile round trip to collect the machine if successful will deter me from bidding.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... 3ec109d1e2

I collect Apollo machines. I'm tempted but who on earth thinks it's a good idea to hold an antiques auction one week before Christmas, for pete's sake? Auctioneers in general seem hell bent on ensuring that they consistently achieve the lowest possible price for the vendors. As for buyers premium, I don't believe that is relevant to most buyers as many will rightly factor in the additional cost and deduct it from their maximum bid; one way to ensure the auctioneers get less for the vendor. I don't generally collect any machine I win at auction these days as it's often considerably cheaper, not to mention much more convenient if your'e still of working age, to use a courier to collect something who offers a flat rate wherever the item is. I've used Proovia with success to collect four cabinet machines I've won from different parts of the UK.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who is more familiar with Apollo horn machines than I am but to my eyes the horn and elbow don't appear to have belonged together? There is some serious damage around the circumference of the horn towards the elbow end, almost as if the horn had been forcibly fitted into an elbow which someone later removed causing the twisting indentations around the circumference.

There are two round indentations to the top of the horn adjacent to the current elbow. I also believe I can see a tapered brass insert to the steel elbow to take the current horn. From looking at the pictures it appears the horn might have had a continental elbow fitted to it which finished closer to the bell ie. further up the conical section. The pin to locate a horn in that elbow might have caused the two indentations?

The brass insert now serves to lengthen and couple this horn to the current elbow of this Apollo machine which at least appears to be the right one but am I right about the damage to horn and it being evidence of the wrong type and size of horn for the machine?

Also I note the end of the tonearm and coupling to the soundbox looks to be modified?

Again, I'd be interested to learn from collectors more familiar with this model.

As it stands its of academic interest as the machine has sold now for £380 plus comms.