Looking for information on a phonograph

Big Jeff · by **Big Jeff** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:00 pm

I hope someone can give me some help here. My mother left me an old phonograph. It has a label under the top lid that says "Hallet & Davis Established 1839 Boston." It has the same logo on the side of the needle arm (On the big round part). It is about 3 feet tall, maybe 3 1/2 feet long and 2 feet deep. There is one lid on the right side that lifts to show the record player. On the front left side is a compartment with shelves for records. THe door is missing. On the right front is a door that opens from the top down to reveal the sound chamber. The machine is accoustic, and has a crank hole on the right side. It was handed down from my Great Grandmother to my grandmother, my mother, now me. I believe it is made of mahogany. I can't find any numbers on the phonograph anywhere, and suspect they may have been on the inside of the missing door.

Does anyone have any info about this phonograph, or know where I might get some? I have searched the internet for several days, and the only thing I can find out about Hallet & Davis is they manufactured baby grand pianos then sold out to Premier Grand Piano Corp. Thanks.

by **Joe_DS** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 6:27 pm

This is one of hundreds of off-brand models produced when the basic phonograph patents began to expire in the teens and 1920s.
SEE: http://www.gracyk.com/makers.shtml

During this period, a number of musical instrument manufacturers, such as Hallett and Davis, also produced record players, often equipped with generic components -- motors, tone arms, reproducers, etc. -- made by subcontracted firms. In terms of quality and market value, these normally fall short of the name brand machines manufactured by Victor, Edison, Columbia, etc.

BTW, I initially googled Hallet & Davis Phonograph but came up with very little. I then tried "Hallett & Davis" (ending with a "double-t") and came up with the following from another phonograph related message board:

SEE: http://tinyurl.com/ls8d9

Big Jeff · by **Big Jeff** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:32 am

Joe_DS:

I sure do appreciate that information! I checked out that site, and the picture of that Hallet & Davis is exactly the same as mine. Well, minus the front left door. Ha. Well, that solves that little mystery. Now I have to try and figure out the origin of some other furniture my mother left to me.

Thank you very much for your help, Joe. I am plumb tickled to death to know about that phonograqh. Take care.