The arm in John's picture looks like the typical portable arm from the late 1930s. If it is right, there should be some kind of horn in there too. My guess is it just dumps sound into the interior of the case.
Ron L -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 12:07 PM To: Antique Phonograph List Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? If you see Joan's detailed follow up, you will note that the ONLY VARIATION was in fact the position of the SPEED REGULATOR, and no other was noted. Bruce ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vinyl Visions" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 12:01:54 PM Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? Ok, that pic looks to be original, with the mahogany woodgrain and the fibre/cone tonearm. My question, is still this: look at John's pic and the tonearm is mounted in a different location and also "appears to be original". As I said before, where in the world would you find a tonearm, motor and crank that would fit exactly in this machine? Not to say it couldn't be done, but it begs the question - why would anyone go to the trouble to alter a cheap machine in the first place and do such a good job that it would be hard to discern??? Tonearms and reproducers made specifically for different machines are almost impossible to move from one machine to another brand and fit exactly. I still wonder if this is yet another variation of woodgraining (not an unusual concept considering that people like different finishes) and the use of other available parts from the factory. If you look at the pic of the auction machine at the link Bruce sent, you can see what appears to be a speed regulator fitted in a hole where the tonearm on John's machine is mounted... maybe the company decided to use the existing hole for a later changeover to a metal tonearm, as the "fibre arm" looks delicate. The whole history of phonograph collecting is filled with odd and unbelievable factory variations from respected manufacturers - why not this cheap little machine? What do I know??? I am not an expert, just a collector/restorer. > Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:14:59 +0000 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? > > Thanks. I just found one that looks completely original. If you pull up a close up of the Center Photo you will get a good look at that so-called Violin Fibre Tone Arm/Horn should look like. Note the dark Mahogany Color of the metal cabinet. > > http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6056299 > > Bruce > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Vinyl Visions" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 7:47:39 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? > > > I am positive that Bruce is right... I was just wondering about possible variations. > > > Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:53:58 +0000 > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? > > > > This machine as I said is all wrong. The one that appeared on ebay a couple of years ago was correct. It had the fiber tone and the correct reproducer, it was correct color but it was missing the Motor. This is definitely a CAROLA but it has definitely been altered from its original state. If you can live with that drastic alteration of the original then by all means shell out some dough, its whatever makes you happy. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Vinyl Visions" <[email protected]> > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Friday, April 22, 2011 11:40:30 AM > > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? > > > > > > Hi John,Even though my 2 cents is only worth 2 cents, I have a couple of questions: does the paint look re-done? Does it crank and play a record all the way through? Does the needle hit the center of the turntable spindle, as it would be very difficult to find another tonearm/reproducer that would be exactly the right length to fit this cabinet, if it has been altered from original. Why would anyone go to the difficulty of altering a cheap machine in the first place? A portable would have probably been more expensive in the past than this machine and these parts don't really look like a portable - look at other CrapoPhones for a comparison. Are there extra holes in the cabinet? These things were made in a time when variations were common, so the fibre arm may or may not have worked as planned or been too expensive, etc. and may have been factory altered with a metal tonearm... who knows? The graining looks good, but if it is actually supposed to be dark mahogany woodgrain in > > g, > > > > it looks wrong - again variations may have been made, which may still be original. Carola and other small machine makers did odd things sometimes and I am not sure that the product control was as good as other manufacturers. The crank does not appear to stick out too far, and fits the original hole/escutcheon from what I can observe... don't totally write it off without doing more research. I would email Tim Fabrizio, and ask if he has ever seen this machine, as oddballs turn up everyday. If anyone can give you an expert opinion on this, I believe that he can. If you believe that it might be worthwhile, give the seller a copy of these posts and see if he will come down on the price... $100?Curt > > > > > Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:48:17 -0700 > > > From: [email protected] > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: [Phono-L] Is this a children's phonograph?? > > > > > > Hello all > > > There is a phonograph I am considering buying for resale, ostensibly a children's phonograph that looks liks a small victrola. It is made of woodgrained metal and is nice looking. Can anyone give me an idea of value? I know some small phonographs weren't actually children's phonographs, and I am interested in the history of this one. Pics can be seen here: > > > http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa39/john9ten/Mini%20Victrola/ > > > Thanks! > > > John Robles > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Phono-L mailing list > > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
