1924 British Cameraphone Collapsible Miniature Gramophone
Miniature Wind-Up Gramophone in Camera-Style Oak Box - with Faux-Tortoise Egg Amplifier, made 1924 in Great Britain
In a Nutshell
Veni Iunxi Vici [I came - I put it together - I conquered] - have a look at the youtube video (pict.26) - a great conversation piece - at all times - everywhere you go
Introduction:
In the early 1920's several collapsible miniature record players came on the market (see ref.1), some of which were housed in cases that had the look of a contemporary box camera. Searching for these so-called "cameraphones" is complicated by the existence of a very different device with the same name, a cellphone with built-in camera. I offer here the "Cameraphone" and in a parallel sale the
Peter Pan Gramophone , both made in 1924 in Great Britain.
According to ref.1 the Cameraphone has been sold by Cameraphone Co. Ltd, 11 Finsbury Park, and by Lee & Pollock, Finsbury Square, London, priced between £3 3s and £4 10s in 1924/25. It came in oak, mahogany or deluxe leather, and it came with different sound-amplifying devices. By far the most unusual, best sounding and best-looking one is the egg with internal mini-horn, made from faux-tortoise shell (pict.s 15-17). The reproducer is of type Victrola with a mica diaphragm and is labeled "Cameraphone - Will Play Any Record - Made in England". The motor has no manufacturer's name but is probably made in Switzerland, and probably by Thorens. It looks almost identical to the one made by Thorens for Plaza Music Company's Kompact cameraphone.
About my cameraphone:
The unit has been thoroughly cleaned and in-depth serviced. The oak cabinet has no cracks, chips or scratches and has been cleaned and lightly waxed. The chrome fittings are rust-free. The egg resonator consists of two half shells (enabling the factory to mount the mini horn (pict.17), that were partly separated and have been repaired (pict.s 15-17). The spring was broken and has been replaced. The problem of the optimal length of a replacement spring has been solved and published on youtube (ref.3, and pict.25). The gramophone plays loud and clear, with some loss in the bass range, as expected. Watch another youtube video with the cameraphone playing a very delicate and precious Vogue picture disc R723 "Wave To Me, My Lady", by clicking on pict.26. Please
e-mail me (Kris) for any questions, ich spreche Deutsch, je parle Français.
Here are the specifications:
Technical Description of Item
Manufacturer
Cameraphone Co. Ltd., London, England
Model
Cameraphone
Type
Miniature player for 78 rpm records
Production Year
1924
Cabinet
Dovetailed oak, camera-box shape with chrome fittings
Reproducer
Victrola-type "Cameraphone, Will Play Any Record, Made in England", mica diaphragm
Tonearm
Chrome with faux-tortoise shell egg amplifier with internal mini-horn
Motor
Single spring motor, made probably in Switzerland
Controls
On/off screw, speed regulating screw
Dimensions (WxDxH)
7¼" x 4¾" x 6¾"
Weight
2.3 kg = 5 lbs
Comment
Near mint condition, motor with new spring
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