GRAMOPHONES and PHONOGRAPHS
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Bing Pigmyphone Toy / Nursery Gramophone
Mid 1920's
In the 1920's, children's Gramophones were sometimes found in the more wealthy households. Bing, a mechanical toy manufacturer based in Nuremberg Germany produced the 'Pigmyphone'. It was cheaply made of sheet metal, but the fairly robust design made it able to withstand the rough handling associated with a spirited child.
This Pigmyphone has "Made in Germany" on the top of the case, there is also the Bing motif which is a horizontal "B"' over a "W" - Bingwerke.
The part that holds a Gramophone Needle is called the Soundbox. On 1st March 1924 Bing was granted a British Patent for a Soundbox (Quote from The EMI Collection by Ernie Bayly) hence the assumption that this Gramophone is mid-1920's.
The open spring motor is wound up by inserting the key through a hole in the turntable, the off / on slide lever at the side of the Gramophone also acts as the speed regulator.
The 5 by 2½ inch diameter horn, the 2 inch mica Soundbox and winding key all pack into the tin (6 inch square by 3 inch high) when not in use.
When not playing records, the Soundbox is held in an inverted position for needle changing.
The maximum record diameter that can be played on the 4¾ inch Turntable is 6 inches.
The open spring motor on this toy could easily tempt little fingers and would be immediately condemned by today's Safety Standards Agency.
The Gramophone has been serviced ready for many more decades of use. The surprisingly powerful small motor runs fairly quietly and is easily capable of playing a children's record from start to finish without slowing down. With its tiny horn, there is only one word to describe its wonderful sound quality - 'Abysmal'.
Some paper has become stuck on the tin case during its life and minute remnants still remain.
As with many toy Gramophones the case has minor dents and ding's, but considering it is over 80 years old the condition is good.
Bing Pigmyphone Gramophone
For Sale £125
(UK Postage £9 via Royal Mail including 100 Gramophone Needles)
Supplementary Photographs
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