Impressive Columbia Client Machine for sale

Unlike Edison and Victor, Columbia would manufacture special order machines for businesses such as department stores. These machines used standard Columbia components such as motors and reproducers, but were never branded as Columbias, and do not appear in official Columbia catalogues. Some of the collectors, for lack of a better term, have taken to calling these client machines.

This is possibly the most impressive client machine I have ever seen. It's quite large for a machine of this era -- the oak cabinet measures 16 inches square -- and features four levels of step-up molding. The beautiful nickel horn, around 19 inches long with a 19 inch bell, was usually used on only Columbia's best models; we received it with this machine and have no reason to believe it isn't original.

I have disassembled, clean and lubricated the gearing; cleaned and polished the governor shaft; repacked the mainspring with new grease; and re-gasketed the reproducer.

We have also nicely refinished the case. A machine like this would never have carried a Columbia decal; I can tell you that this particular case had no decal whatsoever.

If you insist on a date for this item I would guess ca. 1907. We received no provenance with this example, so you will most likely never know by whom it was originally sold.

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Lynn Bilton
Box 435
Randolph,OH 44265
330 325-7866

We buy, sell, and repair antique phonographs and music boxes.

Pick-up and delivery possible in many parts of the midwest,south, and northeast.