Please Help Identify and Info Goldenola Baby Grand

[sandman]

Hello, I cannot find any info on this machine. I got it from a collector's estate and he had it labeled "extremely rare". Any info would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

[Curt A]

It's a "Goldenola", one of the thousands of "no name" machines produced in the heyday of phonographs. It may be uncommon, or even rarely found, but in this case rare does not equate to valuable or desirable...

"Extremely rare" is an overreach, so I hope you didn't pay much for it.

[drh]

... he had it labeled "extremely rare". ...

Welcome to the forum!

I can't tell you anything about this particular machine except that it's what's known as an "off brand," something made by some small mfr., maybe even a furniture company that bought generic mechanical parts and made a cabinet for them. Once the pioneer companies' patents ran out, jillions of such outfits jumped into the phonograph market. Most had at most a transitory existence.

In general, please bear in mind that calling something "rare" is easy but not necessarily true. For fun, I just did an eBay search for the word "rare," and it came up with more than 16 million results. Among them was this: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=ra ... &_osacat=0 It's one of Caruso's most common records, and there are actually 10 other copies in various pressings, five of them the identical pressing, on eBay right now. Even when "rare" *is* true, there are plenty of things that fall into the category I call "rare but not valuable"--there may not be many out there, but there's no demand for them, either. I truly hate to be "that guy" who rains on a parade, but I strongly suspect your machine is one of them.

Now, with all that out of the way, your machine appears to be solidly built and in decent condition. Its true value probably will be in the fun you'll have playing records on it. If it came from a collector's estate, these two matters may already have been resolved, but check whether a couple of routine maintenance items are in order before you do: first, the motor should be cleaned and lubricated. Second, the reproducer (the round box on the end of the tonearm with the needle screwed to it) will need new gaskets around the mica diaphragm if they haven't already been replaced. When you do go to play records on it, remember that it's for shellac 78s only, no vinyl records at any speed. Use a fresh steel needle for each play; reusing a needle will damage records. Your machine will be best with records before the introduction of electric recording in 1925; a little online research will show you what were common label designs of that era. As a beginning rule of thumb: World War I era and before, yes; Depression (big band) and World War II era, no. You certainly *can* play the later records on this machine, but chances are it won't do especially well with them.

[OrthoFan]

The company's name is mentioned in this article -- https://phonographia.com/Factola/Factol ... nition.htm

The only information, online, I could find is piecemeal -- mostly references to the owners, etc.

Doing a Google "books" search, I did come up with a short mention of the company

FROM MUSIC TRADE INDICATOR -- 1923

Screenshot 2025-06-25 151046.jpg (75.57 KiB) Viewed 597 times

So far, I've been unable to find any patent related information.

I'd imagine it was designed to compete with the kiddie size phonographs (though not necessarily intended for kids) of the time, such as the Carola.

OrthoFan

[sandman]

Great, thank to all for the input. I had a $500 offer on this one and was just making sure I wasn't giving away something worth a ton. I am more familiar with the classic car world where rare does not always mean it's worth more as well. They made four times as many 67 Camaros has 67 Firebirds, but those rare Firebirds are only worth one tenth of its Camaro counterparts. So, sounds like that holds true in the phonograph world as well, glad to know I'm not giving away a prized jewel. I got around 30 of his machines, 50 horns and about 1500 lb of spare parts basically because his family didn't care and was selling everything very cheap. I am now getting ready to move and realized it would have been better to have body collection of thimbles than these things that have not allowed me to park in my garage for 3 years. I have sold some of the things, but would really like to just get rid The majority of it. Any suggestions on a good way or place to sell as a bulk lot?

[JerryVan]

I had a $500 offer on this one ...

...I have sold some of the things, but would really like to just get rid The majority of it. Any suggestions on a good way or place to sell as a bulk lot?

That phonograph is worth maybe $75 - $125 (tops!). If you can still sleep at night, take the $500...

Selling as a bulk lot? Post pictures in the Yankee Trader section of this forum. Several folks here are in the phono repair side of the hobby and are always interested in parts.

[sandman]

He's been begging me to sell it to him for a couple years and he set the price. I did tell him what I found out here though so I guess we'll see. Thanks for all the help and info!