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Columbia Harmony Portable

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 8:52 am
by Bobm90
Hi All,

I am trying to find out information about a phonograph I am trying to restore and know the history about it. It is a Columbia Harmony Portable 78 RPM disk player made about 1920, ( I am guessing at about that due to the image of a flapper on the inside of the cover) I have found several photos online but they aren't the same as the one I have, the tone arm is right front not right rear as mine is. I haven't located a serial number but I haven't removed the motor board and it may be under there. The machine plays with the current "standard" arm and reproducer on it, but it also came with a weird Arm which bears the casting of "harmony" on it. This arm has a small Aluminum horn attached to its reproducer ( which would send sound out both sides, one to the horn and the other thru the arm and out the exit in the deck). I have done the best I can in describing it, and will try to post a few photos, any info anyone could supply would be greatly appreciated, thanks for reading this, have a great day!
Update_ after the motor board and motor were removed there are no model numbers visible, only a "69" in pencil on the board.
Bob Meyer

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Re: Columbia Harmony Portable

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 12:15 pm
by Inigo
Hello. This is known to have variations, but probably the other arm with Harmony on it, and the reproducer with the small horn, are the original parts. These were made in pot metal, a mixture which can degrade horribly in time, developing cracks, swelling and eventually crumbling down into pieces. The story could be written there: a former owner replaced the tonearm and reproducer because of degradation of the originals, yet preserving the original parts gift posterity. The swelling in the material can make these tonearms getting jammed in the base and not working properly.
Just guess... I'm a bit eloquent today, sorry.
Some photos could help in assessing the condition of these parts.

Re: Columbia Harmony Portable

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:19 pm
by JerryVan