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Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 11:37 am
by jamiegramo
Last Sunday my sister’s boyfriend picked up this Apollo horn gramophone at a car boot sale for £15 ($20 US). Yes, you read that right. I appreciate that it is in nice original condition and looks unmolested with even the correct soundbox. It has a one piece spun brass horn and the nickel has survived remarkably well on the back bracket and tonearm. I like the fact that the back bracket is offset like a Pathè for less tracking error. The motor is working very well.
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 11:42 am
by jamiegramo
More photos.
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 11:48 am
by jamiegramo
The gramophone came with this stroboscope which I thought I’d show as it gives various speeds around 78 RPM. Remember it won’t work in the US.
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Sat May 02, 2026 1:42 pm
by Steve
Unbelievable bargain. Who on earth would take an original fine quality antique HORN gramophone to a boot sale AND then sell it for £15?!!!
I would like their contact details please just in case they have anything else and decide to sell.
If this Apollo is for sale, please feel free to PM me as I would definitely buy it .......for a lot more than £15!
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 5:08 am
by Steve
I'm surprised no one else has commented thus far as to its original condition, let alone the bargain price!
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 8:37 am
by jamiegramo
Steve wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 5:08 am
I'm surprised no one else has commented thus far as to its original condition, let alone the bargain price!
I think they find the site rather slow. I wanted to respond to your message but the site wouldn’t let me.
Yes the price defies belief. I believe it was from one of the house clearance boys who turn up in van and just want to clear stuff. Phil picked up the horn and asked how much it was and was told £15, he paid, and was about to walk off with it when the guy said don’t you want the rest of it? This was still to be unloaded from the van.
This may be a case where crapophones destroy the impact of original machines. Perhaps the seller thought he was selling a crapophone? Most people can’t tell the difference. I was offered a crapophone for £10 at a boot fair years ago but wouldn’t buy it, as I walked off there was quite a fight to buy it!
I paid £95 for my first horn machine around 1978, this was a Swissie with a badly refinished case. It wasn’t particularly expensive for the time but a lot of money for me. I could only dream of finding a horn machine for £15! I heard of other people finding bargains but I never did, I was just too young and missed the previous bargain years. I think prices really began to rise from the mid 70s.
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 12:38 pm
by poodling around
jamiegramo wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 8:37 am
Steve wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 5:08 am
I'm surprised no one else has commented thus far as to its original condition, let alone the bargain price!
I think they find the site rather slow. I wanted to respond to your message but the site wouldn’t let me.
Yes the price defies belief. I believe it was from one of the house clearance boys who turn up in van and just want to clear stuff. Phil picked up the horn and asked how much it was and was told £15, he paid, and was about to walk off with it when the guy said don’t you want the rest of it? This was still to be unloaded from the van.
This may be a case where crapophones destroy the impact of original machines. Perhaps the seller thought he was selling a crapophone? Most people can’t tell the difference. I was offered a crapophone for £10 at a boot fair years ago but wouldn’t buy it, as I walked off there was quite a fight to buy it!
I paid £95 for my first horn machine around 1978, this was a Swissie with a badly refinished case. It wasn’t particularly expensive for the time but a lot of money for me. I could only dream of finding a horn machine for £15! I heard of other people finding bargains but I never did, I was just too young and missed the previous bargain years. I think prices really began to rise from the mid 70s.
So, it's you, me and steve then ................ steve, where are you steve ? Oh just us then.
I tried to say the other day, a great buy particularly as it seems original - my favourite thind.
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 1:43 pm
by jamiegramo
poodling around wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 12:38 pm
I tried to say the other day, a great buy particularly as it seems original - my favourite thind.
I read your comment, that briefly appeared, about liking the unmolested condition. But I want to polish the horn!
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 1:57 pm
by poodling around
jamiegramo wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 1:43 pm
poodling around wrote: Mon May 04, 2026 12:38 pm
I tried to say the other day, a great buy particularly as it seems original - my favourite thind.
I read your comment, that briefly appeared, about liking the unmolested condition. But I want to polish the horn!
Ha ha ! Very good !
You will be wanting to oil and grease the motor next - a very slippery slope indeed !
Re: Apollo Horn Gramophone
Posted: Mon May 04, 2026 3:08 pm
by Steve
It's a brass horn, meant to be as shiny as a mirror. It's certainly not a crapophone so it deserves to be shone up like a new penny. If I had it the plating and horn would all be brought back to gleaming state. Its not meant to look dull, unpolished and unloved.
It certainly won't devalue it. I've got brass horns I polished to a mirror finish almost 20 years ago and they already look as dull as they did after 100 years when I first got them (assuming they hadn't been polished during their formative days).