The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Greetings. I picked this impressive (51"h x 22.5"w x 24"d) machine up yesterday, and I haven't seen another one like it. It's a Grafonola, of course, and near as I can tell -- it doesn't have a label on the bottom, or anywhere -- it's a model 200, but I can't be sure. I have a third-style De Luxe and a first-style Nonpareil, and of course the 1918-1923 machines (H-2, K-2, etc.) are everywhere, but I don't believe I've ever come across one of these 1915-vintage models in the wild before. Did Columbia not make very many machines in this series? Or were they primarily sold outside the northeast?

What made this machine particularly attractive to me is its oak cabinet; I find it really handsome, and, unlike most mahogany finishes (which of course I love, too), oak doesn't alligator. That said, I have only ever seen one other oak Columbia upright in person, a G-2, and that was many years ago. All the others I've seen were mahogany. Did Columbia just not make many oak machines? I know most Victor uprights were mahogany, too, but I have seen at least several oak machines in person. I know wood types went in and out of style, but was oak really that unpopular in those years?

As always, any and all other information and/or speculation about this machine would be most welcome. Thanks!

Not sure, but I believe that's a 200. Never seen one in oak, though!

Very nice. A beauty, in fact.
That machine is much wider than my Grafonola, which is just 17” wide, with just the usual four volume control louvers, while yours has five.
Mine is oak as well.
Tom

Here's another one almost identical to the model you have -- same carvings, etc. -- with the exception of the louvers. The one you have has five, while the one for sale on Craigslist (Bay Area) has four, though they appear wider -- SEE -- https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/atq/d/ ... 03314.html

Thank you both. The 5 louvers and gold-plated hardware are what make me believe this is a 200; I was just hoping for some confirmation.

I'm not sure why Columbia seems to have made so few upright Grafonolas in oak. I love mahogany, but this oak is really striking.

Zenger wrote: Sun Oct 05, 2025 4:19 pm Thank you both. The 5 louvers and gold-plated hardware are what make me believe this is a 200; I was just hoping for some confirmation.

I'm not sure why Columbia seems to have made so few upright Grafonolas in oak. I love mahogany, but this oak is really striking.

Here's one identified as a model 200E (Electric Motor Option) with a walnut finish -- https://www.facebook.com/groups/phonogr ... 429094233/

OrthoFan