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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Phonograph-blue ... 0929451751
" Please read carefully all the way down, by placing a bid you agree to the terms of sale as stated below

Due to lack of space and to make some room for other machines I'm putting this one for sale.

Description:
Disc phonograph (gramophone) with blue steel horn, dating from the 1920's.
Swiss style machine assembled by Wilson Brothers Manufacturing Company in Chicago.
The machine has a double spring motor, which is easily capable of playing 3 - 4 sides of a 12'' (30 cm) record.
Horn measures +/- 49 cm at the bell and +/ 50 cm in length
Soundbox "Magnet, made in Germany" which puts out a heck of a sound!
At some point in time the phonograph has been repaired. see 4th and 8th picture.
The wood at the back of the case has split, to repair it a piece of plywood has been put against the inside of the case (not visible). Due to age and use the wood of the crank has split, nothing serious though as a piece of tape holds it together.

Starting at 1.00 USD and no reserve."

It looks like another "Ebay" listing to me......

This is an early 20th C. gramophone made from swiss parts. This style is very commonly found in Europe, some were imported to the USA. They are decent machines, usually with very simple (cheap) parts, the fancy horn is typical. The price the seller is asking is very reasonable but adding the shipping will bring it very close to the maximum value of the machine- and there is a very good possibility the machine could be damaged in transit. If something breaks it is hard to find replacement parts in the USA.

This type of machine is very nice and attractive but if you want something to seriously play records on a Victor is a better choice.

I have a similar one which was sold in Belgium- I like it but it is not nearly as well made as a Victor- the tone arm is made of stamped iron which was thinly plated with nickle and over time it rusted and pitted. To have it replated would cost more than my machine is worth.

Looks like a fairly nice machine. Pity the horn was repainted incorrectly though. These peacock horns look much nicer when shaded as they were originally.
I disagree that the soundbox is German though. Unless the Germans made an identical copy, this is a Thorens soundbox, but Thorens often engraved or placed a paper label behind the mica, for the company who bought & sold them. These soundboxes have a larger diaphagm than an Exhibition, & the body is made from aluminium, so once restored it should sound every bit as good as a Victor/HMV (if not better), & the light weight soundbox is much gentler on records too.