The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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I’ve seen these small phonographs in the mahogany grained metal cabinet at antique stores and at the Phonograph shows for years and always thought they were made for children. This ad says otherwise! Quite a surprise. Maybe I’m just late to the party!

Mark

Mark,

Here's a page scan from The Talking Machine Compendium, which was published 28 years ago (can it really be that long ago?). Check the caption at the upper left for the Carola!

George P.

Hi George,

Thanks for confirming the information about the Carola! Gosh, I was one of your first book customers twenty-eight years ago but guess I wasn’t focused of Carolas back then! Where has the time gone?

Best,
Mark

I had hair on my head back then!

George P.

Kicking myself even harder after not buying a Carola I found in the wild a few months ago before somebody else bought it.

They sold well with children, but they were just advertised as an inexpensive semi-portable machine.

I have one of these with original copies of the advert from 1915. The machine is not dissimilar to the Nirona Suzy which although clearly a "toy" was marketed for adults (or at least the ones without children's nursery type transfers applied to them). I might be tempted to sell it but I'm in the UK!

Benjamin_L wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2025 11:07 pm They sold well with children.

Benjamin, please provide your source for this assertion so we can all benefit from your insight.
A scan of the relevant issues of The Talking Machine World publication make no mention of a juvenile market.

Thanks,
Mark

MarkELynch wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2025 6:58 am

Benjamin_L wrote: Sun Jan 05, 2025 11:07 pm They sold well with children.

Benjamin, please provide your source for this assertion so we can all benefit from your insight.
A scan of the relevant issues of The Talking Machine World publication make no mention of a juvenile market.

Thanks,
Mark

Good question as these were not intended for children. However, the question of portability arises when you consider that they are a miniature cabinet machine complete with record cupboard space. How portable are they with a full cupboard of shellac? A flawed design if ever there was one!

Such claims...

"Cabinet body is made entirely of acoustic metal...."

What is acoustic metal??? (I think of Megadeath playing their music on acoustic guitars. )

"Tone arm is of violin fibre; sound waves do not pass through metal..."

So much for acoustic metal, I guess. What is violin fiber?

I love early advertising!