I recently was shown a wind-up phonograph that was in a cabinet shaped like a small baby grand style piano. It is on legs. It needs a restoration of the cabinet, but looks complete. The shop owner didn't have a price on it. but I would like to make a fair offer on it.<P> Can anyone out there give me an idea as to its approximate value? I have never seen one of these other than a picture on page 156 in "The Complete Talking Machine".<P> Any help would be greatly appreciated.<P>------------------<BR>Bob<BR>www.tubularradio.com

bob, what you have is a columbia 350 made in 1915. electric motor on these. motor is hard to find. i sold one of these with the fancy legs for 3500. hope that helps make sure the motor is good. mike<P>------------------<BR>

Mike,<BR> Thanks for your input. I'll see if I can get a price out of the guy and get it bought right, if the motor is good.<BR><P>------------------<BR>Bob<BR>www.tubularradio.com

I beileve there was one shown in the Great Gatsby movie. It was in the pavilion beside the swimming pool.<P>- Dennis<P>------------------<BR>

Dear Bob,
This Christmas my fiance' bought me this most precious piano. My nieghbor down the street had bought it at of all places a garage sale last spring. He called me down to show it to me and I fell in love with it instantly. How can I learn more about it?[/list]

There were several machines in the shape of Grand pianos, some of which resembled the rather expensive Columbia products quite colsely.

All of the Columbia machines will have electric motors.

Most (though not all) of the more common makes (most notably Fern-O-Grand and Phono-Grand) will use spring motors. T

The earliest (pre 1911) Columbia machines will feature a wooden motorboard, under the turntable. In most extant examples this will be silghtly raised from the bottom of the phonograh compartment, but in some cases it will be a circular motorboard which is flush with the cabinet floor.

The post-1911 Columbia machines will be fitted with the same circualr metal motorboard, with the little extension for the tone arm, that Columbia used until the late 'teens.

The furniture (metal fittings) in the recoed compartmant will be gold, if the machine is a genuine Columbia. If it is a Fern-O-Grand, Phono-Grean, Phonoal or other off-beand machine, the fittings will peobably be nickle, although a few "Models De-Luxe" were available with gold palting on the metal parts.

The Columbia machines generally will sell at a phonograph auction, in the Midwest, for between $2,200.00 and $3,000.00, in excellent original condition. The Phono-Grand, Fern-O-Grand, and other "Off-brand" machines are much more common, and far less well made, and so generally sell for just under $1,000, in good shape.

As you can see, the difference is considerable, so be quite certtain that your machine is indeed a Columbia before ponying up a considerable sum.