The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A number of years ago I restored a Brooks Repeating Phonograph a friend bought for me at an auction of $80 with instruction manual. Works great and as the ad states plays any size record or a portion of a record up to a switch selected 8 times, automatically shuts itself off and suspends the tone arm when finished. The ad is very generous stating it will play a record or portion indefinitely (no mention of the spring winding down)

I have always wondered how many of these machines were made. Anyone out there have any info?

I can tell you I've been aware of at least 2 complete working and nice examples for sale in the last 3 or so years, one was a really gorgeous example in oak. I'm pretty sure a member here either had one needing some attention a few years back as well, so I guess that's three. With any off-brand machine, it's probably pretty impossible to nail them down to exact numbers, but The Brooks machines do turn up.

Sean

I also have a Brooks in working condition in the oak finish and an original brochure which talks about the 3 different floor models they made. It is an awesome piece of technology and to my understanding, not many of them work properly as the works are mostly pot metal.

I don't have any statistics of manufacturing information, but enjoy your machine.

Scott Corbett has/had a Brooks, and I also saw a parts machine at George Vollema's.

Thanks for the replies. Yes I had to get the pot metal base for the tone arm as the one on the machine was kaput. Amazing George V. had one. Other than that it works and the cabinet (mah) was in really nice shape. I agree the mechanics on these machines is something to behold.

This sounds like an interesting machine. Can someone post a video of one in action?

Let's revive this thread! Who has a Brooks Repeating Phonograph, and the capability of posting a video of the mechanism in action?

PeterF wrote:Let's revive this thread! Who has a Brooks Repeating Phonograph, and the capability of posting a video of the mechanism in action?

There will be a beautiful video of a Brooks in action very soon on the Antique Phonograph Society website:

www.antiquephono.org.

...along with several others not yet posted!

George P.

If you are looking for one, this one has been for sale for awhile.

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/atd/4805733592.html

For those afraid of repairing pot metal parts with JB WELD, and having it fail, I have had great success with a product called MUGGY WELD....which applies with a HEAT GUN!