MONARCH SENIOR (HMV, circa 1908)

The Monarch Senior was HMV's most ornate oak offering of the time. Lovingly referred to as the "Captain Scott" among collectors today, this model was part of the equipment to accompany Scott on his  voyage to Antarctica. The matching pedestal seldom found. This example features the more luxurious oak spear-tip horn adding a mellower sound than the standard tin horn option.

VICTOR VI (Victor, circa 1904)

The Victor VI (Victor the Sixth) was The Victor Talking Machine Company's top-of-the-line offerings, introduced in 1904 with a whopping US$250 price tag. This is an early example (serial number 1086) featuring a smaller more refined cabinet, early nickel-plated motor and gold-plated, brass fittings.

As production continued the Victor VI's price dropped to $200 with elements of the case being made from cheaper materials (eg. pot metal column capitals).

COLUMBIA GRAPHOPHONE (Graphophone, circa 1908)

This model was on offer from the English division of the Columbia company. Featuring a wooden horn this is the only re-polished disc machines in the collection.

I was fortunate enough to have been presented this machine by my parents on the occasion of my 21st birthday.

GLENOLA (Victor, circa 1918)

An example of local manufacture, this machine was offered by the "Glenlyon Furniture Manufacturing Company" on Glenlyon Road, Brunswick (VIC).

Many furniture companies emerged as manufacturers of cabinets fitted with, usually Swiss made hardware. Quality varied, fortunately this was this company's top-of-the-line model.

Owned by my grandmother, this is the machine that spawned my collecting bug.

PICTUREGRAM (Edison Bell, 1920s)

The Picturegram by Edison Bell can be seen as an early attempt at multimedia. A product for lucky children, the machine would play a record featuring a well known fairytale accompanied by matching and time synced illustrations.

102 - Blue (HMV, circa 1932)

Considered the best performing acoustic portable gramophone anywhere in the world the HMV 102 had a production run spanning three decades. This example features the rarely seen optional dust cover.

Each of the 102 Gramophones in the collection are early production examples. Later examples were less refined to lower production costs.

102 - Brown (HMV, circa 1932)

Only offered in brown for the first two years of production the 102 portable is considered the best performing acoustic portable gramophone anywhere in the world the HMV 102 had a production run spanning three decades. This example features the rarely seen optional dust cover.

102 - Green (HMV, circa 1932)

Considered the best performing acoustic portable gramophone anywhere in the world the HMV 102 had a production run spanning three decades.

The green examples are as popular today among enthusiasts, as they were to their buyers when introduced .

Each of the 102 Gramophones in the collection are early production examples. Later examples were less refined to lower production costs.

102 - Red (HMV, circa 1932)

Considered the best performing acoustic portable gramophone anywhere in the world the HMV 102 had a production run spanning three decades.

The red examples are as popular today among enthusiasts, as they were to their buyers when introduced .

Each of the 102 Gramophones in the collection are early production examples. Later examples were less refined to lower production costs.

102 - Taupe (HMV, circa 1932)

The 102 portable was only offered in taupe during the first year of production as the colour did not sell well making it the rarest 102 today.

Considered the best performing acoustic portable gramophone anywhere in the world the HMV 102 had a production run spanning three decades.