Table-top Slecta Gramophone

[amrcg]

Anyone knows what can be expected from a Selecta table-top gramophone in terms of sound? The same vendor that sells the Electa cabinet gramophone also sells the following:

http://vilaflor-braganza.olx.pt/gramoph ... -282988011

It seems that the Electa and Selecta companies were somehow related. Anyone has more info about this?

Regards,
António Grilo

[gramophoneshane]

Selecta machines were made in England using good quality Garrard motors, and the tonearm, soundbox, brake & speed controls were supplied by Thorens of Switzerland. Collectors will often refer to such gramophones as "off-brand" machines.
Judging by the photos, this appears to be the most original of all that you've posted so far, and it should sound about the same as a similar sized HMV or Victor table model with an Exhibition soundbox, once new rubber gaskets are installed the the Selecta (Thorens) soundbox.
These soundboxes have a larger diaphragm than the Exhibition, and because the body is made from aluminium (not pot metal), they are nice and light which is great for reducing record wear.
I've never examined a Selecta in person, so I dont know how good or bad the internal horn design will be, but I'd imagine it's nothing extraordinary, though still as good as what most other companies were using in the early to mid 1920s.

Below is a video that will give you an idea of what the Selecta should sound like once the soundbox is restored.
This is actually an Australian made Rexonola table model, but it uses the same Thorens tonearm & soundbox as the Selecta machine, and the internal horn is probably about the same size & basic design in both machines.
One advantage the Selecta would have is the Garrard motor, which probably runs a little quieter than the Thorens motors that were used in Rexonola machines.
The price is about what I'd expect to pay for the same machine here in Australia too.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-QXM9e04-U[/youtube]

[amrcg]

Do you know if it is easy to get parts for the Selecta?

[gramophoneshane]

Parts should be easy enough to get, although I doubt you'll ever need any, except perhaps a replacement mainspring oneday, and most of these are a common size & readily available.
Garrard motors were of excellent quality & built to last
If for some reason you ever needed to replace one of the Thorens components, these too are quite common as many were used by literally hundreds of different manufacturers around the world.

[amrcg]

He is a video sent by the seller. But the head seems not to include a label similar to the video that you have posted. Could it be original, or is it a replacement?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IVRpo9- ... cJC3eiQ%3D

[estott]

It may be a replacement, but a working one. On a machine like this absolute originality and correctness of the parts is not necessary. It appears to work well.

[gramophoneshane]

The soundbox is probably original. They didn't always have paper labels behind the mica diaphragm. I've seen them have polished aluminium, gold plated , or sometimes they have a companies brand name etched into the metal behind the diaphragm. Sometimes the paper labels discolour too, making them very hard to read.