Thomas Edison produced the first “Standard” phonograph in1898 and was known as the “Square Top” due to the shape of the case which had square corners. Later models had the more familiar curved lid. The model in the picture is the model B from about 1905 with the banner logo on the front of the […]
Here is a rare gramophone, the “Polly Portable”. This machine first appeared in the US in about 1915 but an almost identical version called the “Guiniphone” was later made in the UK by the Vickers Armstrong Company, famous for making armaments. The gramophone design was one of the few that attempted to do away with […]
The “Gem” was the smallest of the range of phonographs produced by Thomas Edison around 1900. It was developed to compete with small Continental phonographs that had become very popular in Europe and the UK, but was much better designed. The reproducer was guided precisely across the cylinder with a feed screw instead simply following […]
The most popular portable gramophone in the 1920s was the model 101. The standard model had a black case but top of the range versions could have cases of a variety of colours. The gramophone has been serviced and plays well with the correct No.4 sound-box free from “pot-metal decay”. This earlier version has a […]
Here is a selection of rare Parlophone records, made in Australia, and featuring Maori songs and artists. There are five double sided records, four in very good condition and one with a surface crack on one side, but still playable, Some are pictured here. Let me know if they are of interest.
Here is a real rarity, the French made “Gypsy” gramophone, almost certainly the smallest gramophone made in that country. It is in a solid leather case measuring only 16 x 8 x 7 cm, and with a folding fabric horn, very like the slightly larger “Mignonphone”, which also claims to be French made, but may […]
Here is another example of the HMV model 102 portable gramophone from about 1933. It is in a red case in excellent condition and with minimal loss of plating on external fittings. It plays really well with a No.5A sound-box. Collectors should be aware, when buying, that the excellent No.5A and 5B sound-boxes are subject […]
Here is a really early gramophone from the very beginning of recorded sound, possibly the very first commercially available music machine from “The Gramophone Company”. In the book “His Master’s Gramophone” by Proudfoot and Oakley it is referred to as the “Style No.2” from 1900, however, an accompaning photograph from the original owner dates it […]
This is a very early “portable” gramophone from about 1912. Although Decca gramophones had the reputation of being the first genuine portables, there were a few earlier ones and the “Alfresco” appears to be one of them. Christopher Proudfoot refers to the gramophone in Edition 29 of the “For the Record” magazine. The magazine of […]
The “Pixie Grippa” is one of the smaller gramophones produced in the early 1920s. It was made available by the Vernon Lockwood Company who used the name “Perophone” for many of its models. Although this small gramophone is less than half the size of standard portables of the time, it has a full sized motor […]
