Discovered this in my basement

dmariec · by **dmariec** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:38 am

Hi, I found this record player along with a bunch of old records in my basement. I've been trying to find out the make and model of it, but can't seem to find it anywhere. I feel like it's staring me right in the face, but just can't find it. Can anybody help? Where is it located on a record player? Here's pictures, I don't know if they'll help.

http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs136&d=09072&f=m ... kh393.jpeg
http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs136&d=09072&f=m ... ty847.jpeg

Thanks.

Okay, I've discovered that it is a Victor-Victrola player, but still can't find the model..

by **Joe_DS** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:31 pm

Interesting. Too bad the lid is missing. That's normally where the manufacturer's logo or decal is placed. You might look carefully at the reproducer, or sound box, to see if there's anything on that.

I'm pretty sure that this is a Crystola, one of many off brand phonographs produced during the late teens into the mid-1920s, when the patents held by the major manufacturers -- Victor, Edison and Columbia -- began to expire.

RJ Wakeman makes a mention of Crystola in his article -- 263 Machines and Their Makers: 1916 - 1923 -- http://www.gracyk.com/makers.shtml

"Although machines shared some qualities, unique designs were carefully advertised. ... The internal horn of the Crystola was made of mirror-polished plate glass, which must have made these phonographs delicate and difficult to ship."

Here a photo of a Crystola model, taken from: http://www.clarphon.com/OtherPhonographs.htm

The mirrored horn would probably have given this a very loud, bright sound quality. In terms of value, it would probably be good for parts, since the glass horn chamber often gets broken, or chipped.

Neophone · by **Neophone** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 5:26 am

Dmariec,

I'd say you've got a nice gem there. Joe_DS is spot on. I would search the cellar for the lid real good!

Either way congrats on a wonderful find.

Regards,
J.

by **Joe_DS** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:06 pm

Neophone wrote:Dmariec,

I'd say you've got a nice gem there. Joe_DS is spot on. I would search the cellar for the lid real good! Either way congrats on a wonderful find.

Regards,
J.

Hi "J"

Many thanks for confirming this. Hopefully, the OP will spot this.

Joe_DS