The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The soundbox is a Tournaphone, but the motor with it's straight cut gears suggests Pathé.
The beading on the top of the lid looks odd, as if there is something missing.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235284963716 ... p_homepage

Indeed odd. The ON-OFF lever reminds also of Pathé, although I never saw one with the lateral action of this machine, normally the lever is pulled out to release the movement. The arm is also unfamiliar. There are oddball Pathé machines that were sold outside France and are not identical to the French models, so this could be one of them. And certainly something is missing on the top, maybe a mirror or a panel.

epigramophone wrote: Mon Nov 06, 2023 8:09 am The soundbox is a Tournaphone, but the motor with it's straight cut gears suggests Pathé.
The beading on the top of the lid looks odd, as if there is something missing.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235284963716 ... p_homepage

In my (vivid) imagnation I wonder if the top allowed for a 'card' to be slid in. Maybe the gramophone was for public use in a church, library or public house ? The card might say when the church services were held, or in a public house asking people to place money into a dish if they play it (like but instead an actual coin in the slot machine) or in a library it might say - donated by (some-one) .... don't forget to use a new needle, don't over-wind and replace the needle before use. ???

On closer examination, the motor could be of German origin. The open spring case is familiar to anyone with a Polyphon disc musical box, such as this one which sits in our dining room (but not on it's side!) :

I'm fairly certain that's an early Pathé motor but I believe the machine overall might be a Frankenphone. None of it looks right to me!