Pride & Joy #2: Columbia "Reginaphone"

I have another pride & joy to share. This is the Columbia Grafonola version of the "Lion's head" Model 240 Reginaphone. This one I found in an antique store in northern NY state. I poked in on a whim and was surprised to see this in the corner. It was pricier than most of my acquisitions, but they are very hard to find.

For those that haven't seen one, it looks like a fancy Victrola, but the turntable can be removed to reveal a music box comb. So it can play either 10" or 12" disc records or 16" music box disks. As a phonograph, it's just okay, but as a music box it is amazing. The front sliding doors open to reveal the horn. There is a trap door in the top of the horn that allows you to direct sound either from the throat of the horn or from the soundboard of the music box comb.

These were made by the Regina Music Box Company in Rahway NJ, but some of them were re-labeled as Columbia Grafonolas and sold through the American Graphophone Company in Bridgeport, CT. This one is of the latter.

- Mark.

Boy, what a find! And it has a beautiful original finish.

Joe

Magnificent.