Please Identify this Columbia Table Grand

drums_for_seria · by **drums_for_seria** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:44 pm

Hello everyone,

I'm new here. I would very much appreciate any information you can provide about a gramophone i just acquired. It's an English made Columbia Grafonola Table Grand. Here is a link to some photos:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220193722126&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=012

I'd love to know all the usual information - what exact model it is, when it was made, any significance it may have, possible value etc. One thing i've noticed is the tone arm comes out of the case towards the right side - i've only seen photos of grafonola's with the arm coming out of the centre. Is that significant? The serial number is '3882' - can we derive any info from that?

It's just arrived and sounds beautiful.

thanks.

by **Joe_DS** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 4:19 am

I can't quite make the decal out. Does it say "Viva-Tonal" anywhere on the decal? Also look carefully at the horn through the louvers. Is it a wooden horn, or is it metal and divided in the center?

drums_for_seria · by **drums_for_seria** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:34 pm

hi,

thanks for responding. it does not say "Viva-Tonal" anywhere on the decal, only 'Columbia Grafonola' and 'Made in England' and 'Patents applied for'. It also has the 'magic notes' symbol on the decal.

The horn is metal and it is divided in the center.

- thomas.

by **Joe_DS** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:53 pm

That looks like either the Model 118a, Mahogany, Small Table Grand or the Model 120a, Mahogany, Standard Table Grand, both of which date from circa 1927-1929. (You may want to get in touch with Ian Calderbank via his website, to confirm -- http://www.gramophones.info/)

These were fitted with bifurcated metal horns; gradually tapering tone arms; and sound boxes equipped with aluminum diaphragms. They were specifically designed to play electrically recorded records--introduced in 1925-- with greater fidelity than earlier models. As you note, the tone arm's base is mounted on the right side. This was done on the later Columbia & other models in order to accommodate the longer horn necessary to transmit a wider range of frequencies.

Price-wise, I think you did very well. Similar items are normally priced at about 100-175 pounds. There are quite a few in this range on this page -- http://www.camcentre.co.uk/gram.htm

drums_for_seria · by **drums_for_seria** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:02 pm

hello Joe_DS,

thanks a lot for the in-depth response, i appreciate the info. i will indeed check with Ian Calderbank.

- thomas.