Anyone here collect old Phonograph players, or "talking machines"?

[admin]

Just curious if we have anyone here who knows about them or is interested in them.....

[jayne]

we have alot of old records Quietdudes Aunt had I believe they were called 75s is that right and we have alot of LPs and I have a crate of 45s ......even a few 8 tracks floating around.....havent had em out in ages tho

[Manley2]

I'm thinking the were 78's. Oh shoot I should have kept my month shut I'm giving up my age

[jayne]

not to worry most of us are "that age" it was a wonderful time to grow up....

[admin]

They were '78s. The reason I ask is that I made an unusual find while shopping for antiques this weekend. (We were looking for two end tables)

My wife and I came across an old "talking machine" that was in really nice shape. I am always fascinated with old equipment like that, and although never planned on owning something like this, we bought it.

It is called a "Shell-O-Phone", made by the Shell-O-Phone Talking Machine Company of Chicago, IL. I did not realize how unique it was until I got it home and started researching it.

First, it appears this company only existed for a short time in 1919. While extremely little is known about them, they made high end machines for the day, using a conch shell from a south Pacific island as the "speaker". (I did not know about the conch shell when I bought it)
The really exciting part for me was that until this last Saturday, collectors knew of only two of these in the world. Mine is now the third.














Just thought I would share. This was a very exciting find for me.

[jayne]

it looks in really great shape.....great find Admin did it fuel your fire to hunt for more little goodies?

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

Seen one not long ago sold for around $400.00 but your's is missing the lock in the front where the key would go. Makes me wonder if the cabinet has been re-worked is all. Plus the materail on the grill appears white, when I do think it should be a dark color. The wheels on the floor and crank handle should be gold plated. The shell I think was set in Plaster of Paris, and there might be a Decal around there somewhere. But, if I were to buy the piece you have ADMIN, I would for anywhere in the amounts from $250.00 to $375.00. But I don't think I would have paid more for it. Either way, you got a good catch there, and I hope it is the real deal, and not one that someone tried to put back together, for your's has a different somewhat style from what I had seen before. ADMIN, the gold plating is what catches my eye, because you see if they used all Nickel Plating, then why the gold plated Manufacture Name plate. Makes you wonder if certain parts were changed many years ago, for I have been told back in the days, that replacement parts were Nickel Plated. Now that doesn't cheapen this up any by any means though.

ADMIN, remember to only use the proper oil on the things that move, like Sewing Maching oil ONLY....

[admin]

Anyone who can use Google can find the one site that shows the two models, as well as the info you describe.

I really was not interested in what one would pay for it. Not for sale.

There were apparently two model levels, one that included gold plating and a lock, and mine, which is nickel plated and, as you pointed out, lock-less. Their should be no cloth in the grill and I have been advised to remove it, as that is not original.

[admin]

BadBoy, I responded to your original post, but it has changed three times in the last few minutes. Why do you seem to be learning more on this as the minutes pass?

[admin]

By the way, the "gold plated name plate" is a simple decal. Not a plate.
Interestingly, the first machine in the thread below is very, very much like the machine you describe, except there is no dark cloth in his grill. Kind of looks like dark cloth, however. Easy mistake.

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewtop...f=2&t=2155

This link is one of the few useful ones that come up in a Google search for Shell-O-Phone.