The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Saw this today at a local new antiques store. They say it's a "travelling salesman's" gramophone. The brand is "Homophone". I've seen full sized Homophones before (and records) but I wonder if this has just been made up from a motor and cut down lid? I mean the lid wouldn't even close over the ten inch turntable. Anyhow, at AUD$3350.00 I'm sure the antiques store won't be around that long...unfortunately. The prices shops here in Australia are trying to get just depress me.

I had to feign interest in a Smith's electric wall clock to get this photo - and when the owner saw me looking at the clock, almost started to get abusive that I wouldn't buy the clock at $450! I think I sold my last Smith's clock on eBay for around $50!

Regards, Glenn.

Hi Glenn

The antique store owner is correct, I have seen a few of these around. The price is way too high, I would say $1000.00 would be plenty for it.

Regards Marcel
Sydney

It is an original machine, as I've seen an identical Homophone before here in Brisbane about 15 or more years ago. Another one is shown in the 2007 Carters catalogue & was for sale at Sovereign Antiques in Adelaide, listed at $2200-2500. The one here was around $1200 if I remember correctly, & it was sold.
They were manufactured by the billiard table makers Heiron & Smith ltd of Sydney, & were I believe travelling salemen samples that could be easily transported to country & city music & furniture retailers in an effort to gain orders for full size models.
I've been able to find very little information on Homophones, or their sister machines, the Tonaphone & Salonola, but it appears the Homophone was the first to be introduced in 1918, and all 3 seem to have strong connections to Home Recreations Ltd of Sydney. All 3 shared an identical upright cabinet design but with different grilles, and used basically the same Thorens running gear apart from the soundbox & U-tube on the goose neck tonearm. They also shared the same patented aussie horn design.
There doesn't seem to be any connections between the German Homophone record label & the aussie Homophone machines, and the Homophone branded machines appear to have been phased out in about 1925-26 with only the Salonola brand name moving into the radio/radiogram era.
The Fremantle light & sound discovery centre is currently gathering information on Salonola for a book, so hopefully when published it might shed some light on not only the machines, but the connections between the 3 companies.

I have to agree with you about antique shop pricing here. I rarely grace any of them with my presence these days lol. I honestly dont know how most of them expect to pay the rent let alone make a living.
Turn over is the name of the antique business game, but most of these clowns seem to think if they can make 1000% profit on every item in the shop they'll be rolling in it, and then they wonder why they cant sell a match box
I dont think I've ever paid more than $20 for one of those Smiths kitchen clocks, and I've never put more than $35 on one for resale. I've probably still got 1 or 2 sitting in the shed amoungst the boxes of JUNK. I'd hate to think what this guy would put on some of the nicer Smiths I've actually got in the house.
I wouldn't even expect to get $450 for a fully restored common Victorian Ansonia or Sessions mantle clock
The prices they put on anything that is even the slightest bit art deco is rediculous, but even worse is what they're beginning to ask for retro rubbish. Who in their right mind would pay $150-200 for 5 plastic canisters made in 1972

Thanks for the responses. Can't believe I haven't come across one of these before in my travels.

It was certainly a cute machine but not in my collection at that price!

Hi all

Gramophoneshane is spot on about Tonaphone, salonola and homophone all being linked. I assumed they are all from the same parent company but sold as different brands.
I have seen around 7 to 8 of these miniature homophones over the years. The large turntable is correct and been on all I have seen but have been told some did come out with the smaller turntable. They all have the homophone decal in the lid and usually the home recreation decal just to the right of the turntable near the tonearm ( my one doesn't have this decal and never has had ). Of the untouched examples I've seen, they never had a grill, just a piece of cloth so if you see any with a grill I'd say its been added in later.
I agree with saxymojo on value, maybe a bit more for a good one. A nice example got around $1500 at auction a number of years ago near Sydney. Is this example in Adelaide ?
The thing I like about these is other "salesman sample" machines I've seen are unbranded and I like how this has a brand.

regards

Budsta

Howdy all

I've seen about 7-8 of these in my travels.
Gramophoneshane is pretty much on the mark with his comments about makers.
Of these minatures homophones I've seen. All have had the large turntable whereby the lid rest upon it. I have been told some did come out with the smaller turntable. Most examples I've seen have the "homophone" decal in the lid and usually the "home recreations" decal on the motor board to the right of the tone arm ( my example doesn't have this and never has had ). Of the untouched originals I have seen. They never had a grill, just a piece of cloth where the grill should be. The speed control appears to vary in location.
As per value. I got mine for around $350 but it needs a little TLC and was missing some bits which I now have. I was pretty happy with that. I saw a nice example sell at auction near Sydney for around $1550. I pretty much agree with Saxymojo opinion on value, maybe a little more for a nice one.
What I like about these is the fact they have a brand. I have seen the odd other miniature cabinet ( not as small as these )and they have been unbranded.
I assume the example you saw is in Adelaide.

Budsta

No this one was in sydney. Thanks for your reply Budsta.