[78-L] P.H Buchinski Phonograph

[Steven C. Barr]

> Thank You Steven for the post. I don't think I'll waste much time on it 
> then,
> probably no great loss to history if it goes to the brush pile. The 
> mechanisms
> look pretty basic on it. I'll probably just save the metal stuff for 
> repair and
> make do parts.
> Jeff S
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Steven C. Barr <stevenc at interlinks.net>
> From: "jeffrey smedbron" <bottomlessattic at yahoo.com>
>> Picked up a nice looking console player today labeled under the hood P.H.
>> Buchinski. Anyone know anything about this brands history. I certainly
>> never
>> heard of them before and nothing comes up on a web search. The components
>> and
>> cabinet look a lot like a Silvertone I have. The motor isn't working.
>> Would it
>> be worth putting much money into repairing it. Would it have any
>> significant
>> collecting value in good working condition. .
> In the heyday of the phonograph as home entertainment (1910-1923), there
> were innumerable companies which sold the components (motors usw.)
> needed to "manufacture" console phonographs! Should someone wish to
> sell his/her/its own brand of machines, they only needed to buy the
> necessary parts...have cabinets assembled...and obtain the decals
> needed to put their brand on the inside of the machines' lids!
>
Actually, re-reading this post answers a question I asked just a bit
earlier! Mr, Buchinski simply had the decals made to sell machines
from his piano shop under his (and his store's) name. The machines
were of course "generic" and assembled from equally "generic"
parts.

Interestingly, ehen I used to live in Toronto (at 211 Pape Av.). there
was a "vacant lot" which was used as a Studebaker dealership and
later as a junkyard; apparently, in the late "teens" it had housed
a phonograph "manufacturer!"

Until my landlady (may she die slowly and painfully!!) decided to
"clean up my premises"(?!), I used to own (and used for storage)
a phonograph cabinet bearing a "Microphone" decal on the
inside rear of its lid.

Steven C. Barr