Chas T Robey early 20th Century Table Top Gramophone

[bennioc73]

I come in peace and really hope somebody can help me to identify my dad's Gramophone. It has a marking on the bottom RX 1222584. My dad has owned this for over 50 years after acquiring it from a friend who had it from new. It hasn't been played in the past 5 years since my dad passed away and I'm trying to find a new home for it. I'd be really grateful if anybody can give me an approximate valuation and apologise if I aren't allowed to discuss selling on this site. It comes with 30 records and a box of needles. I enclose some photographs. Any advice etc would be gratefully appreciated and I apologise for the lack of knowledge.

Many thanks
Chris

[DanP58]

I sent you a PM

[DanP58]

ROBEYPHONE” HORNED GRAMOPHONE
Categories: Gramophone


Found this online
Here is an original horned gramophone from about 1910. Called the “Robeyphone” . Many similar horned gramophones were imported from Germany and Switzerland at that time, but this one was advertised in the “Sound-Wave” magazine as being “ALL BRITISH”. It has an oak case and a large embossed steel horn decorated in shades of red.

The gramophone was offered for sale by mail order for a 4/6 deposit by Charles T Robey Ltd. Coventry.

[bennioc73]

Thank you ever so much Dan.
Do you or anybody else know what they are worth and or any dealers in the UK who I could talk to please?
Many thanks

[Orchorsol]

Here's the link for the one that DanP58 found - https://www.windupgram.co.uk/robeyphone ... ramophone/ for sale by one of the last UK dealers still left. These may have been advertised as "All British" when new but still contained foreign components such as the motor! £450 seems an optimistic price to me, however someone might pay that for the peace of mind that it's come from a reliable specialist. To my mind, that would probably be a non-collector who just wants an iconic gramophone.

Yours has a non-original soundbox (playing head) and turntable felt. The records don't really add significantly to the value (who knows if there's anything of value amongst them, extremely unlikely statistically). I'd guess at £150 to £200 on the likes of eBay, but as ever that could be highly variable in either direction - especially (on the lower side) as something like this is difficult to package for safe shipping, so it would probably rely on someone being local or prepared to travel to collect it.

[epigramophone]

The case and horn of your machine retain their original finishes, which are selling points in it's favour.

George Robey and Charles T. Robey were trade names used by the mail order company run by Frank and Ada O'Brien in Coventry.
When the real George Robey, the famous music hall star, began to receive complaints about "his" gramophones he sued the O'Briens in 1911. He was granted an injunction forbidding the O'Briens from using his name, and they were also fined £500.
The O'Briens then adopted the equally fictitious Charles T. Robey name, which makes dating Robeyphones relatively simple.
The George Robey advertisement below dates from about 1908, and the Charles T. Robey from about 1912.

[Curt A]

Chris,
Obviously, I don't know your age, but surmise that you are relatively young and don't appreciate old family belongings... I get that, since most people are like that. Sometime in the future, after the money is spent on some other current whim, you won't have either one. I thought that way, but now would love to have anything of my dad's or grandparents.

Do what you want, but apparently this was important to your dad and you might want to hang onto it, if not for yourself, do it for future family - someone might really appreciate the connection. It usually takes getting older to feel this way... Just a thought, for what it's worth.

Curt

[epigramophone]

Do what you want, but apparently this was important to your dad and you might want to hang onto it, if not for yourself, do it for future family - someone might really appreciate the connection. It usually takes getting older to feel this way... Just a thought, for what it's worth.

Curt

Good advice.
I treasure my Columbia 204 portable, bought as a 21st birthday present for my aunt in 1934.
She left it to me when she died in 1963. I was only 16, but already a collector.
My family will not be able to keep my entire collection, but they have their favourites. They have also learned enough from me to ensure that whatever is sold will go to the right people at the right prices.

[Orchorsol]

Do what you want, but apparently this was important to your dad and you might want to hang onto it, if not for yourself, do it for future family - someone might really appreciate the connection. It usually takes getting older to feel this way... Just a thought, for what it's worth.

Curt

Good advice.
I treasure my Columbia 204 portable, bought as a 21st birthday present for my aunt in 1934.
She left it to me when she died in 1963. I was only 16, but already a collector.
My family will not be able to keep my entire collection, but they have their favourites. They have also learned enough from me to ensure that whatever is sold will go to the right people at the right prices.

REALLY good advice. I too am lucky enough to have my grandparents' HMV table grand and some of their records. I wouldn't part with them for anything. And my adult son, although he has no interest in gramophones, is intent on treasuring it in years to come too.

If you want any advice about using it, caring for it or repairing it, you've come to the right place, just ask!

[GavinM]

Just resurrecting this thread as last week I visited the Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire, UK. On display in the 'Entertainment' section was this Robeyphone machine. The descriptive note attached to it wasn't very informative (as well as mis-spelling the name) so I don't know the story of how it came into the museum's possession (I wish I'd asked now!). Anyway, what on earth has happened to it? It looks like the original tone arm lying in front but why someone would take it off and attach another arm/soundbox to the motor board is anyone's guess - I wonder where the sound comes out!

Sorry about the out-of-focus shot of the nameplate, I had to squeeze my phone in between the machine and a partition.