Hi Rayda,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

The Columbia Graphophone is one of the most historically important early sound-reproducing devices — a key link between Thomas Edison’s phonograph and the modern record player.
The Graphophone was developed by Alexander Graham Bell, Chichester Bell, and Charles Sumner Tainter at the Volta Laboratory in Washington, D.C. It was meant to improve on Edison’s original phonograph (1877), which used fragile tinfoil for recording. The Volta Laboratory sold the rights in 1887 to the American Graphophone Company, which was then closely affiliated with the newly formed Columbia Phonograph Company (established 1889 in Washington, D.C.). The “Columbia” name eventually became the dominant brand — Columbia Graphophone Company.

By the early 1900s, the company’s British branch, the Columbia Graphophone Company, Ltd., became one of the most important record and phonograph producers in Europe. It later merged with the Gramophone Company (HMV) in 1931 to form EMI (Electric and Musical Industries Ltd.).

It is quite rare for these to sell on original cabinets; when sold with just the box it sits, on, these can sell for between $300 and $700; with the original tiger oak cabinet, you're looking at a fair market price (for auction) between $1,000 and $2,000. If you're looking to sell this, I'd recommend working with an auction house that has experience with older instruments like this (I can provide some names if you're interested).

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

An antique Columbia Graphophone with original oak box and phonograph cabinet
late 19th Century
Stand fitted with record dividers
Horn: 19"x19" Depth 21"
Box: 12.5" x 13.5" Height 5.5"
Cabinet W 16" D 15" Height 30"
CONDITION: This appears to be in very good condition; client reports it is in working condition but needs a new spring.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 1,000-2,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia