Columbia Viva-Tonal Grafonola #117

Please see email reply sent to you.
For anybody else that might be interested in this model:-
Columbia "Table Grand" Model 117 of UK manufacture circa 1926. The wood is Oak. The Soundbox should be a Model No. 8 and it has a powerful single spring motor probably made by the excellent Garrard Company here in the UK. Prior to its merger with HMV in 1931 and even until circa 1935 Columbia never manufactured their own motors even if they have Columbia stamped on them. The Louvre's control the volume, the most suitable needles for this gramophone are Medium Tone.
Happy Listening
Ian Calderbank
http://www.gramophones.info

Hi Ian:

I'm not the O.P., but I've always been curious about the Columbia Viva-Tonal gramophones.

Did the 117 incorporate "Plano-Reflex" (SP?) technology, or was a conventional exponential type tone arm and sound chamber used?

In know that Columbia sort of went their own way for the design of the acoustic post-1925 gramophones--both in the UK and in the United States. For instance, the US-produced Viva Tonal phonographs did not incorporate the (multi-passage) folded exponential style horns designed by Western Electric for Victor Orthophonic models. Even the large 800-series machines were equipped with substantially different tone chambers.
SEE: http://www.intertique.com/VivaTonalNoBack.html

I've also seen illustrations of the metal horns used in some of the UK models, which seem to be a rather simple design, in which the tone chamber divides into two sections which come together at the horn's mouth. (I've yet to spot a photo of this on the web.)

The Plano-Reflex models I've seen have flattened surfaces throughout the tone chamber--points at which the sound waves are "reflected." I've never seen one in person, so I haven't a clue as to what these would sound like.

Hello Joe
I must emphasize we are talking about UK not USA Columbia. The 117 was circa 1926 and was not a