The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Greetings, everyone. A friend came upon this machine at an antique mall and asked me if I would be interested in having him buy it and ship it to me. At first glance it appears to be a Columbia -- the upper works look like my Graphophone AA, and the crank knob looks like a Columbia -- but the case clearly isn't a Columbia case (it has no decal), the rest of the crank looks odd, and I don't know what to make of the reproducer. (I'm afraid I don't have any measurements to share at this point.) Can anyone out there tell me anything about it? Thanks in advance.

It's essentially a Columbia BV, but sold as "client machine", hence no decal, but otherwise identical. I believe they were sold by Sears under the Oxford name. The cabinet is correct and made by Columbia. The reproducer is made directly into the carriage. In other words, not removeable. The crank is correct. These machines often have springs that come disconnected from the winding shaft due to a poor design. This one appears to be wound in the photos, so not an issue here, apparently. All in all, this is a nice looking, correct machine. Depending upon price, it could be a nice addition.

Absolutely a little Oxford.

These are one of my favorite styles of small cylinder machine.

That looks just like one in the Live Auction, selling now.

What's the asking price?

Name probably suggested by two streets in Chicago. Harvard was a boundary street of the enormous Sears warehouse.