Toy Gramophones. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Station X · 23rd Nov 2005, 3:01 pm

I've recently come across a Chad Valley toy gramophone - and I also remember Triang making a Phonograph in kit form in the early 1960s. It could record as well as play. Any one have or still got one of those?

Graham.

ppppenguin · 23rd Nov 2005, 3:16 pm

Mine was definitely later than this. All plastic, ISTR it was red and white. Probably got broken or given away when I grew out of it.

Radio_Dave · 23rd Nov 2005, 3:17 pm

The one I had as a child in the early/mid 70's was made by Marx.
I can remember buying the brightly coloured 78's from the local record shop with my father

.

David

Sideband · 23rd Nov 2005, 4:40 pm

I think the one I owned would have been earlier (60's). I don't remember it being made by Marx but I do remember the manufacturers being based in Glamorgan....my mother had to send it away for repair when the speed control failed...and I got a blue and white one back. Happy days!

Rich.

mickjjo · 23rd Nov 2005, 4:51 pm

I had one as well

, all plastic, I don't remember much about it, but it went the way of many childhood toys

. A few years ago I was given a late 1920s toy gramophone known as the "Bing Pigmyphone", cheaply made of tin, it's a bit tatty but still works! I saw one of these on ebay recently. I have amassed a pile of 6" records of the period, (2nd attachment), but some of the titles may upset the P.C. brigade these days!.......

.

Regards, Mick.

,

Radio_Dave · 23rd Nov 2005, 4:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

Looking at that photo of a Marx, I think mine might have been one of those rather than a Chad Valley.

I actually had two of these, the first one was handed down from my brother who would have had it in the early 1960's. This one was red and white. They are powered by two D cells under the turntable

HTH
David

ppppenguin · 23rd Nov 2005, 5:20 pm

Thanks Dave, I'm pretty sure mine was a red and white Marx. I remember playing with it a lot - must have been about 5 at the time so that makes it 1961.

Mick, that's a really sweet little gram. Looking at the photo, you must use it for in-car entertainment

The record label is a lovely design and politcal correctness hadn't been invented then. I have a piano roll of "The Darktown Strutters Ball", the words on it might almost get somebody arrested nowadays.

AndiiT · 23rd Nov 2005, 8:44 pm

From https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...oy+gramophones

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndiiT

Not to throw the thread too far of topic I too had a Chad Valley toy gramaphone (I believe they were produced in two colours, Red and Yellow and Blue and Yellow) as I recall they had a speed control which, with careful adjustment, would slow the turntable down to 45 RPM, I tried to play at least one 45 on the "gramophone" but dread to think what the "six inch nail" stylus did to the grooves!!!

The marx one would be similar to the one I had as a child, but I suspect that mine was also made by Chad Valley, and I would be using it sometime in the early to mid 1960's.

I mentioned that there were two colour schemes, it appears that there were more; unless Chad Valley only used the red/Yellow and Blue/Yellow schemes and Marx introduced other colour schemes later on.

Having further perused this post, I suspect that Chad Valley may have at some point taken over Marx or purchased the rights to produce a similar looking unit as I am sure that mine was made by Chad Valley and not Marx; thus making the red/yellow etc. units the ones made by Chad Valley and not as the other way around as suggested above.

Andrew

af024 · 23rd Nov 2005, 9:55 pm

I remember something called the Chad Valley 'Close 'n' Play. Would it have been one of those I wonder.

As regards the Marx and the Lumar (same things) I had two as a child - my brother's cast off followed by my own. I played both of mine to the death (including killing all my records off). Boy was I upset when it got thrown away. I kept all my ruined records however and over that last few years I've been trying to re-collect them all (quite a task for sure).

Anyhow, as a side issue, our local toy shop (still around AND still has an assistant working there that I remember as a child) sold Gala Goldentone records and Kidditune records. The Goldentones were bright orange and the Kidditunes were black (with yellow label). The Goldentones were made of a brittle plastic (which also didn't fair too well against the onslaught of the Lumar). The Kidditunes were 'modern' day vinyl and seemed to take some hammer.

Anyhow, not only have I managed to get some of the old records back into fold, but I've also managed to get my hands on a couple of Lumars.

Happy days. I am convinced that these things started me off with music and record collecting - simply magic. Hats off to all manufacturers concerned!

Andy

af024 · 23rd Nov 2005, 9:59 pm

Interestingly, Gala Goldentone GG3 'A Cowboy Needs a Horse' makes an appearance in the Rare Record Price Guide 2006 and comes in at a stonking £10 in mint condition! Can you believe it.

Andy

Nickthedentist · 23rd Nov 2005, 10:14 pm

Have a look at this site, esp. Gallery Four: http://www.kiddierekordking.com/art.html

Some of these ones apparently displayed synchronised animated cartoons too

Nick

mickjjo · 23rd Nov 2005, 10:45 pm

I have a fair number of those 6" discs as would have been used on the toy machines, It is not easy to identify the artists, but most were made by famous dance bands and comedians, Charles Penrose of "Laughing policeman" fame crops up quite a lot. I must start listing them and possibly transfer the better ones to CD one day, the average playing time is 1.5 minutes!

. I've attached some more interesting label scans.

.

Regards, Mick.

AndiiT · 24th Nov 2005, 6:49 pm

Hi,
I have just found this link that may interst some of you, although I am now doubting if my toy gramophone was made by Chad Valley; it being identical to the Marx and Lumar models.

http://www.feelingretro.com/view_toy.cfm?id=26

I can certainly recall having some of the Goldentone and Kidditunes records though....

Andrew

rovereab · 25th Nov 2005, 7:14 pm

This thread has really brought back childhood memories for me of the 1960s. I had a red/white version and Kidditunes records.

I can still hear the sound of the battery powered motor from memory! I can also remember going to a shop in Ilford's Pioneer Market called Ron's Music Shop to but small tins of gold needles which I think were made by HMV (how much would these be worth now LOL). If my memory serves me well some needles had something like a plastic collar on the blunt end - not sure why.

Great thread!

Eamonn

23rd Nov 2005, 3:01 pm	#1
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Toy Gramophones. I've recently come across a Chad Valley toy gramophone - and I also remember Triang making a Phonograph in kit form in the early 1960s. It could record as well as play. Any one have or still got one of those? Graham. Last edited by Darren-UK; 12th Jun 2007 at 10:52 pm. Reason: Post modified as it centred upon a now-defunct ebay link.

23rd Nov 2005, 3:16 pm	#2
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Toy Gramophones. Mine was definitely later than this. All plastic, ISTR it was red and white. Probably got broken or given away when I grew out of it.

23rd Nov 2005, 3:17 pm	#3
Radio_Dave Nonode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Toy Gramophones. The one I had as a child in the early/mid 70's was made by Marx. I can remember buying the brightly coloured 78's from the local record shop with my father . David Last edited by Darren-UK; 12th Jun 2007 at 10:54 pm. Reason: Defunct ebay link removed and post edited accordingly.

23rd Nov 2005, 4:40 pm	#4
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,580	Re: Toy Gramophones. I think the one I owned would have been earlier (60's). I don't remember it being made by Marx but I do remember the manufacturers being based in Glamorgan....my mother had to send it away for repair when the speed control failed...and I got a blue and white one back. Happy days! Rich. __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman..... Last edited by Darren-UK; 12th Jun 2007 at 10:57 pm. Reason: Edited to conform with removed ebay link in another post.

23rd Nov 2005, 4:51 pm	#5
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Toy Gramophones. I had one as well , all plastic, I don't remember much about it, but it went the way of many childhood toys . A few years ago I was given a late 1920s toy gramophone known as the "Bing Pigmyphone", cheaply made of tin, it's a bit tatty but still works! I saw one of these on ebay recently. I have amassed a pile of 6" records of the period, (2nd attachment), but some of the titles may upset the P.C. brigade these days!....... . Regards, Mick. , Attached Thumbnails

23rd Nov 2005, 5:20 pm	#7
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Toy Gramophones. Thanks Dave, I'm pretty sure mine was a red and white Marx. I remember playing with it a lot - must have been about 5 at the time so that makes it 1961. Mick, that's a really sweet little gram. Looking at the photo, you must use it for in-car entertainment The record label is a lovely design and politcal correctness hadn't been invented then. I have a piano roll of "The Darktown Strutters Ball", the words on it might almost get somebody arrested nowadays.

23rd Nov 2005, 9:55 pm	#9
af024 Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea) Posts: 1,255	Re: Toy Gramophones. I remember something called the Chad Valley 'Close 'n' Play. Would it have been one of those I wonder. As regards the Marx and the Lumar (same things) I had two as a child - my brother's cast off followed by my own. I played both of mine to the death (including killing all my records off). Boy was I upset when it got thrown away. I kept all my ruined records however and over that last few years I've been trying to re-collect them all (quite a task for sure). Anyhow, as a side issue, our local toy shop (still around AND still has an assistant working there that I remember as a child) sold Gala Goldentone records and Kidditune records. The Goldentones were bright orange and the Kidditunes were black (with yellow label). The Goldentones were made of a brittle plastic (which also didn't fair too well against the onslaught of the Lumar). The Kidditunes were 'modern' day vinyl and seemed to take some hammer. Anyhow, not only have I managed to get some of the old records back into fold, but I've also managed to get my hands on a couple of Lumars. Happy days. I am convinced that these things started me off with music and record collecting - simply magic. Hats off to all manufacturers concerned! Andy Attached Thumbnails

23rd Nov 2005, 9:59 pm	#10
af024 Octode Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea) Posts: 1,255	Re: Toy Gramophones. Interestingly, Gala Goldentone GG3 'A Cowboy Needs a Horse' makes an appearance in the Rare Record Price Guide 2006 and comes in at a stonking £10 in mint condition! Can you believe it. Andy

23rd Nov 2005, 10:14 pm	#11
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Toy Gramophones. Have a look at this site, esp. Gallery Four: http://www.kiddierekordking.com/art.html Some of these ones apparently displayed synchronised animated cartoons too Nick

23rd Nov 2005, 10:45 pm	#12
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Toy Gramophones. I have a fair number of those 6" discs as would have been used on the toy machines, It is not easy to identify the artists, but most were made by famous dance bands and comedians, Charles Penrose of "Laughing policeman" fame crops up quite a lot. I must start listing them and possibly transfer the better ones to CD one day, the average playing time is 1.5 minutes! . I've attached some more interesting label scans. . Regards, Mick. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Darren-UK; 12th Jun 2007 at 11:16 pm. Reason: Response to now-deleted OT post removed.

24th Nov 2005, 6:49 pm	#13
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Toy Gramophones. Hi, I have just found this link that may interst some of you, although I am now doubting if my toy gramophone was made by Chad Valley; it being identical to the Marx and Lumar models. http://www.feelingretro.com/view_toy.cfm?id=26 I can certainly recall having some of the Goldentone and Kidditunes records though.... Andrew Last edited by Darren-UK; 12th Jun 2007 at 11:17 pm. Reason: Typo corrected.

25th Nov 2005, 7:14 pm	#14
rovereab Tetrode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Posts: 86	Re: Toy Gramophones. This thread has really brought back childhood memories for me of the 1960s. I had a red/white version and Kidditunes records. I can still hear the sound of the battery powered motor from memory! I can also remember going to a shop in Ilford's Pioneer Market called Ron's Music Shop to but small tins of gold needles which I think were made by HMV (how much would these be worth now LOL). If my memory serves me well some needles had something like a plastic collar on the blunt end - not sure why. Great thread! Eamonn