Pocket phonograph Mikiphone

Symbol of swiss applied art from 1920's

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Hungarian-Russian translation, interpreting

Mikiphone

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2 video. Not my apparat!
Mikiphone Édith Piaf

The ancient iPhone — MikiPhone


The Swiss-made "Mikiphone" is probably the smallest talking machine ever placed on the marked, folded up to the size of a large pocket watch or a small cheese case. As a symbol of the art of watch making from Geneva and the tradition of gramophone manufacturers in the country side region of the Swiss Jura mountains, this gramophone is something like a wonder work.
It was in November 1924 as the "Mikiphone" was patented by the Hungarian Vadász brothers. Later, there was signed contracts with the Paillard company from Ste-Croix to produce this talking machine. Production was in 1925-1927 (in Hungary since 1917, probably some pieces), a few in a luxury version with golden or silver case for a pretentious clientele.

Construction


5×11.5 cm, 1.2 kg.
Label: POCKET PHONOGRAPH MIKIPHONE. SYSTEM VADÁSZ. PATENTED IN ALL COUNTRIES. SWISS MADE. Serial number: 26-0041223.
The closed "Mikiphone" resemble a cheese-box. It plays Records of up to 10 inches (12 in old inches) or 25 cm. The arrangement of the packing is ingenious with the turntable having holes to accept parts of the sound box whose diaphragm is not on the usual side. The resonator, which is used in place of a horn, is in two pieces witch fit concave to concave sides. Due to the small size of the turntable a spring clamp is supplied the records in place. The machine has an ingenious fold down tone-arm, a circular resonator crafted out of celluloid, a tiny turntable that supports a full size proprietary reproducer. In essence, everything you need to make a working phonograph "on the fly," all designed to fit neatly inside the Mikiphone's distinctive (& very cool) 4" diameter nickeled cannister.
Soundbox: good voice, without asperity.
Motor needs replacement of main spring. It revolves nicely, quiescent the disk, but stops with soundbox taken on it. It's not difficult to replace, there are firms who produce any type of springs. Needs only manual dexterity and some usual instruments. While you reading this, I am busy with this work too, but it needs time: my ex master now lives in other city and have scant free time. Of course when it will ready, the price will higher enough.
Other, minor defects: on top of cannister defect of nickel (pic. 2); the turntable's textile pileworn (pic. 5); little split on one side of resonator (pic. 7).

Original


That's important. Well-known fact that most of offer (more than 90 %) of expensive and beautyful antiquities are fake. The bulk of buyers of this like antiquities are not collectioners - rich amateurs, moping wives etc. Usually they are unable to differentiate between original and false. Duffer antiquities - big business in all world.

Equipment


  • Gramophone needles 1 box (200 pieces)
  • Gramophone disc 1 pc.