Phonoland

Can anyone help with a value range on a Brunswick Gramaphone, Model Cortez. This unit is in great condition. Come with original Brunswick 'brush' cleaner, & needles. There are 4 side shelf expanding record holders. All original brass hardware and Brunswick maunfactures plate with serial number.???

anyone know manufacturing period of this unit?

Here's a Brunswick Cortez model from the site of a Japan based collector/dealer. Is the one you have similar to this one?

curious on date on manufacture and value... do you know?

krill wrote:curious on date on manufacture and value... do you know?

The Cortez model dates from about 1927. It was, I believe, the largest of the Brunswick Exponential Horn Panatrope models, and was obviously designed to compete with the Orthophonic Victrola Credenza. (Brunswick also gave the name Panatrope to their electrically amplified phonographs, which were available starting in late 1925.)

There's a brief description of the Panatrope on this page -- http://www.gracyk.com/brunswick.shtml -- along with a history of the development of Brunswick phonographs and records.

As for value, I hesitate even to give a price range. These are relatively rare compared to the Orthophonic Victrola Credenza models, which normally sell on eBay for about $1000-$2000+ depending on finish, condition, and frankly, where the buyer is located.

For more information about this model, you might want to get in touch with Mr. Wakeman via the email jump on the page I referred you to above.

krill wrote:curious on date on manufacture and value... do you know?

About ten years ago Shellman in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan was selling this Brunswick Panatrope Cortez for 2200000 yen. I remember it was in very good condition. Righ now according to a Japanese collector, since it is as rare as HMV203 ans as sound unique as HMV203, it is about 3000000yen. Only about ten people in Japan own this model.

Hideki Watanabe

Intresting, I have been trying to find a website that can give me the same info. I have the exact one & have been trying to find out what it is worth. I plan on selling it & want to find some info on what price to start with.

Who cares what it's worth, that is one seriously beautiful machine!

I also own one of these beautiful Brunswicks. Except mine does not have a crank, but a universal AC/DC motor. I had a friend clean the commutator, put new brushes in, and resolder the wiring and clean the points. It works great now and the sound in truly stunning for late 20s jazz and pop tunes! The Cortez model is so rare, it would be hard to put a value on it since it is seldom put up for sale. Brunswick was putting all their money into the electronic Panatrope, so few Cortez models were built. A lot would depend on condition and demand, like all antiques. One way to find out is to put it up for sale on Ebay and let the market decide the price.