Columbia Harmony

[BobM90]

Hi All,

I am trying to find out information about a phonograph I am trying to restore and know the history about. It is a Columbia Harmony Portable 78 RPM disk player made about 1920, ( I am guessing at about that due to the image of a flapper on the inside of the cover) I have found several photos online but they aren't the same as the one I have, the tone arm is right front not right rear as mine is. I haven't located a serial number but I haven't removed the motor board and it may be under there. The machine plays with the current "standard" arm and reproducer on it, but it also came with a weird Arm which bears the casting of "harmony" on it. This arm has a small Aluminum horn attached to it's reproducer ( which would send sound out both sides, one to the horn and the other thru the arm and out the exit in the deck). I have done the best I can in describing it, and will try to post a few photos, any info anyone could supply would be greatly appriciated, thanks for read this, have a great day!

Bob Meyer

 

 

Edited Monday at 03:25 PM by BobM90
incorrect photo

[BobM90]

Hi All,

I am trying to find out information about a phonograph I am trying to restore and know the history about it. It is a Columbia Harmony Portable 78 RPM disk player made about 1920, ( I am guessing at about that due to the image of a flapper on the inside of the cover) I have found several photos online but they aren't the same as the one I have, the tone arm is right front not right rear as mine is. I haven't located a serial number but I haven't removed the motor board and it may be under there. The machine plays with the current "standard" arm and reproducer on it, but it also came with a weird Arm which bears the casting of "harmony" on it. This arm has a small Aluminum horn attached to its reproducer ( which would send sound out both sides, one to the horn and the other thru the arm and out the exit in the deck). I have done the best I can in describing it, and will try to post a few photos, any info anyone could supply would be greatly appreciated, thanks for reading this, have a great day!
Update_ after the motor board and motor were removed there are no model numbers visible, only a "69" in pencil on the board.
Bob Meyer

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[BenL]

This is a Model No. 2 from the mid-to-late 1920s, around 1926-1927.

 

You may know that Harmony was Columbia's budget brand, offering a more affordable alternative to their main-line Columbia machines. Like most Harmony portables, this model was contracted out. Oro-Tone supplied the tonearms, while the Unique Reproduction Company provided the Add-A-Tone reproducers.

 

I’ve seen this same model replaced 2-3 times with tonearms and reproducers from the 1930s-1940s. (Because of this, you'll often see people dating them later than they really are.) As with many inexpensive portables of the mid-1920s, it relied heavily on pot metal. This was a low-cost portable phonograph, originally priced at around $25-$30.

 

Columbia almost completely redesigned the Model No. 2 for its next and final late 20s iteration. 

 

1927 ad.

 

1924 ad.

Edited Thursday at 04:56 AM by BenL

[BenL]

I’d recommend reaching out to Rod, the admin, and asking him to combine this thread with your earlier one to avoid having two separate threads. You could also add an updated comment to your earlier thread.

[BobM90]

BenL,

Thank you very much for that info. Until now I have not been able to find anything about, this player, and yes the tonearm has been replaced with a later standard one, I have many original pieces in cast aluminum and will spend many happy hours trying to put it back together. Have a great day, thanks again.

Bob Meyer