COLLECTORS ITEMSThe Raymond Stacey Collection of Mechanical Music and Slot MachinesRay was born in Muswell Hill, North London. His parents ran Gordon's Café, a Transport Café off the North Circular Road in North London. There was a one armed bandit slot machine with visible jackpot, a pinball machine and a juke box. He had always been fascinated by anything mechanical from a very young age and his first purchase was a cigarette making machine which he noticed in the window of a neighbouring sweet shop. Despite the proprietor not wanting to sell the item and suggested that he buy some sweets, in the end he came away with the small chromed device. He walked back home with his new prize possession, showing it off to his father, but he was not happy at all with this purchase and promptly made him take it back and buy some sweets instead.
In his early teens he became very interested in audio equipment. He was very fortunate as a school leaver at 15 to find his dream job working for Kuschel Electronics in Forest Hill, South London. Here he was to learn about all aspects of speaker design and construction as well as amplification. Some years later he would start his own business which he has had for over thirty years, being involved in the design and development of high quality custom commercial sound systems.
Over the years his collecting passion has stayed with him. He then decided to put together a collection – "The History of Sound" – starting from musical boxes and mechanical music, including juke boxes. He also continued his interest in slot machines.
Over the past twenty years, Ray has been building up the collection and has enjoyed many hours at various auctions up and down the country, always seeking to find the best machines available and seeing many interesting characters on the way as well as making many friends. Vintage slot machines and mechanical music seems to fascinate all age groups.
He has enjoyed building up the collection but now feels it is time to thin his collection down and enable other collectors, old and new, to add some of his items to their own collections.
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An early 20th Century American Aeolian "Orchestrelle" Model "XY" player organ with fifty-eight key keyboard and twenty-two stops, contained in panelled mahogany case of massive proportions with moulded cornice and four moulded columns to front with Corinthian capitols, fretted trellis pattern panels with folding keyboard, on square tapered and fluted front supports, 56ins wide x 30ins deep x 69ins high, with matching stool with shaped and moulded uprights, 25.5ins x 11ins x 25ins high, and a selection of some 200 rolls for the machine £2000-3000 Note: Retailed by The Aeolian Co. Ltd., 131-137 New Bond Street, London W1 and apparently bought as a wedding present for Colonel and Mrs A.E, Hills, Red Cottage, Lingfield, Surrey, in whose possession it remained until it was bought by Raymond Stacey in 2004. It was restored by Mr Reg Richings of Ealing in 1990
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A late 19th Century American "Concert Roller Organ" playing on twenty keys and to take 6.25ins wooden cylindrical and metal pinned "Cobs", in walnut and gilt decorated case, 17ins wide x 14ins deep x 13ins high, and a selection of twelve wooden "Cobs" for same £250-350
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A late 19th Century American "The Cabinet Roller Organ" by The Audophone Co., Ithaca, New York, playing on twenty keys and to take 6.25ins wooden cylindrical and metal pinned "Cobs", in walnut and gilt decorated case, 17ins wide x 14ins deep x 12.5ins high and a selection of 12 wooden "Cobs" for same £250-350
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A late 19th Century American "Euphonia" sixteen key table top organ to take 7.5ins paper rollers, in walnut and gilt decorated case, 10.25ins wide x 8ins deep x 7.5ins high, and 5 modern paper rollers for same £100-150
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A late 19th Century Swiss table top polyphon - "The Britannia", to take 9.125ins diameter metal disks, the movement with twin 3.5ins wide steel combs, in walnut cabinet with turned finials enclosed by a pair of rosewood banded doors, 17ins wide x 10ins deep x 26ins high, and a selection of reproduction metal disks for same £500-700 Provenance: Christies South Kensington - Auction 12th April 2001, Lot 74
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A late 19th Century six/eight air musical box with 11ins cylindrical and single piece steel comb, in rosewood and floral marquetry case, 20ins wide x 9ins deep x 6ins high (no tune sheet to interior of lid) £250-400
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A 19th Century Swiss carved walnut musical hall chair with shaped back of carved rustic form carved with Edelweiss, the oval central marquetry panel depicting goats and a goat herd, the lifting seat similarly inlaid with two goats and opening to reveal four air musical box, No. 4690, and on carved cabriole front supports £450-600
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Early 20th Century H.M.V. horn gramophone - "Intermediate Monarch" model, the oak cased gramophone with No. 31 motor and original "Exhibition" sound box, and additional No. 4 sound box, the panelled oak case with H.M.V. transfer to front and original green painted panelled metal horn (paintwork slightly scratched and scuffed) £500-700
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A 1920s Aeolian-Vocalian gramophone - "Graduola" model, No. 8394G, with speed regulator and remote volume control via retractable cable, in mahogany case with deep incurved moulding to lid and fretted folding front panel, 16.75ins x 19.5ins x 16.25ins high £300-400
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A 1920s H.M.V. gramophone, Model 8T.C.E.M., with double spring No. 32 motor and H.M.V. No. 2 figure to sound box, in plain mahogany case with ogee moulding to lid, 16ins wide x 19.75ins deep x 14ins high £150-200
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A 1920s Orchorsol portable gramophone with Garrard No. 11a motor, in blue leather cloth covered case with record storage to lid, 12.25ins wide x 16.75ins deep x 6ins high £100-150
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A 1920s child's "Pixie Grippa" portable gramophone with small aluminium horn, in black leather cloth covered case, 10.75ins wide x 7.75ins deep x 4.75ins high, and a small selection of gramophone records for same £100-150
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An early 20th Century Pathephone No. 1 gramophone No. 1682, in oak case with integral aluminium horn, 10ins square x 14ins high £120-160
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An early 20th Century Swiss made horn gramophone with Swiss made AX motor and Meltrope sound box, in mahogany case, complete with brass "Witches Hat" horn, 11ins square x 28.5ins high £200-300
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An early 20th Century phonograph - "The Imperial Lambertphone" in black japanned and gilt finish, contained in oak walnut case with reversible lid/base, 14.75ins wide x 9.25ins deep x 7ins high, and with later aluminium horn £100-150
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An early 20th Century "Sylvia" phonograph, Model "C" with open plated finish action and in walnut case with domed cover, 12.5ins wide x 8ins deep x 7.5ins high, and with later aluminium horn £150-200
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An early 20th Century "Sylvia" phonograph with open plated finish action, in walnut case with reversible lid/base, 13.5ins wide x 9ins deep x 7.5ins high, and with later aluminium horn £125-160
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Gem Model A", No. G118089 (circa 1901), with "Model C" reproducer, in black japanned and gilt decorated finish, in oak case with domed cover, 10ins wide x 7.75ins deep x 8.25ins high, and with later aluminium horn £150-200
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Standard Model A", No. 757917 (circa 1902), in black japanned and gilt finish, with large single spring motor and "Model C" reproducer, in oak case with rounded corners and domed cover, 13ins wide x 9.5ins deep x 10ins high, and with blue japanned panelled horn for same, 38ins high overall £400-600
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Gem Model A", No. G111774 (circa 1901), the key wound movement with "Model B" reproducer, in black japanned and gilt finish, in original "Green Tint" oak case with domed cover, 10ins wide x 7.75ins deep x 8.25ins high, and with later aluminium horn for same £200-300
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Triumph Model A", No. 34766 (circa 1902), introduced as an improved version of the Edison "Spring Motor Phonograph" with "Model C" and "Model H" reproducers (to play two and four minute cylinders), and with shaving attachment, in black japanned and gilt decorated finish, contained in oak "New Style" case with square corners and domed cover, 17ins wide x 11.5ins deep x 14ins high, with original blue painted panelled "Morning Glory" horn £600-800
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Standard Model A", No. 107827 (circa 1903), with "Model C" reproducer, in black japanned and gilt finish, in oak case with rounded corners, 12.75ins x 8.75ins (lacking domed cover), and with later aluminium horn £200-300
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Standard Model A", No. 180561 (circa 1902), with large single spring motor and "Model C" reproducer, in black japanned and gilt decorated finish, in original "Green Tint" oak case with rounded corners and domed cover, 12.75ins wide x 9ins deep x 10.25ins high, with black japanned and brass horn for same £200-300
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Standard Model A", No. 147987 (circa 1903), in black japanned and gilt decorated finish (circa 1903), with "Model C" reproducer and with shaver attachment, in black japanned and gilt finish, contained in oak case with rounded corners and domed cover, 12.75ins wide x 9ins deep x 10.25ins high, and with later aluminium horn for same £200-300
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Fireside Model A", No. 23228 (circa 1909) to play two minute cylinders and four minute "Amberol" and "Blue Amberol" cylinders, "Model H" reproducer, in oak case with rounded corners and domed cover, 11.5ins wide x 9ins deep x 11ins high, with black japanned and brass horn for same £300-400
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Gem Model A", No. G178847 (circa 1910), with "Model C" reproducer, in black japanned and gilt finish, contained in oak case with domed cover, 10ins wide x 7.75ins deep x 8.25ins high, and with back japanned and brass horn for same £150-200
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Amberola Model 50", No. 42883 (circa 1919), with black japanned finish, contained in mahogany case with integral horn, angled edges to case and fretted front panel, 14.5ins wide x 19.5ins deep x 16ins high £300-400
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An early 20th Century Edison phonograph - "Model D" "Combination Gem" (known as "Red Gem"), No. 319897D (circa 1910), geared to play two minute and four minute "Amberol" and "Blue Amberol" cylinders, with "Model K" reproducer, in red japanned and gilt and black finish, on oak base with oak domed cover, 10ins wide x 8ins deep x 8ins high, with matching red japanned and painted metal "Fireside" horn £500-700
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A 1920s oak gramophone with Exhibition sound box and brass horn for same, base 11ins square £200-300
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A large brass "Witches Hat" pattern phonograph horn, 43ins overall £80-120
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A small collection of Edison wax phonograph cylinders £50-70
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A late 19th Century Continental "Picture Clock" with chromo-lithographed picture - View of a Continental city set with 2ins diameter white enamelled dial to the single train movement, within painted and gilt reeded frame and glazed, 23ins x 28ins overall (frame damaged in places) £150-200
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An early 20th Century mahogany cased "Gecophone Crystal Detector Set", No. 1, with instruction label to interior of lid, 9ins wide x 6ins deep x 6.25ins high, and headset for same £100-150
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A late Victorian mahogany cased "Improved Patent Magneto-Electric Shocking Machine", with printed trade label (no manufacturer's name) to inside of lid, 8.75ins x 4.75ins x 4.5ins high £100-150
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A late 19th Century French mahogany cased "Magneto-Electric Shocking Machine" by A. Gaiffe, 40 Rue St. Andres design Arts, Paris, No. 44477, 7.25ins x 4.5ins x 4.75ins high, and one other similar battery operated machine £100-150
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A late Victorian mahogany cased "Graphoscope" stereoscopic viewer with adjustable twin eyepieces, containing a selection of black and white stereoscopic cards mounted in wirework framed continuous band, 12ins wide x 10.5ins deep x 17ins high £350-450
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A late Victorian oak and brass mounted "Hall" letter box, the arched top with brass front and letter flap worded "V.R." above "Letters", with panelled door below (fitted with Bramah lock), 9.75ins wide x 6.5ins deep x 13.75ins high £250-350
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A late Victorian/early 20th Century oak and brass mounted "Hall" letter box, the sloping lid with brass flap worded "Letters" above bevelled glass panel and conforming front panel with telegraph slide below, flanked by open letter racks (fitted with Bramah lock), 16.75ins wide x 8.5ins deep x 10.75ins high £250-350
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A late Victorian mahogany and lacquered brass folding plate camera by Bausch & Lomb, with three mahogany framed double sided plates for same, contained in leather fitted case (case somewhat damaged) £100-150
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An early 20th Century "Garrett's Improved Gold Change Till" to take Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns, in nickel plated cast steel case with ornate front in the "Art Nouveau" manner, 12ins wide x 6ins deep x 14.75ins high, and key for same £300-400 Provenance: Christies South Kensington - Auction 8th May 2003, Lot 874 and with a copy of the original Advertising Leaflet
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A 1920s cast metal wall mounted 6d-in-the-slot direct dispensing machine by Cigarette Distributors Ltd, 6 Broad Street Place, London EC2, the rectangular case with two side drawers, each to hold packets of ten cigarettes, 6.75ins wide x 2.5ins deep x 10ins high £100-150
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An ETAS No. 5 chromium plated "Automatic Lock" Penny-in-the-Slot toilet door lock (for left hand opening), 13.5ins x 4.25ins x 2.5ins deep (as new, in original box) £80-120
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A George VI Second World War "Trinity House" bell metal bell dated 1945, complete with clapper and wall bracket for same, bell 10.5ins high x 11.75ins diameter (in mint unissued/use condition) £150-250
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A late Victorian Joseph Lucas Ltd "Silver King" oil burning bicycle lamp with domed front glass and cut green glass oval side panels, 5ins high (in mint unused condition) £100-150
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Three cast and plated metal table bells, 4.5ins to 5.5ins high £80-120
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A late Victorian mahogany lacquered brass and polished steel "Magic Lantern" projector, 19ins x 10.5ins x 17ins high (lacking oil lamp) £120-160 Provenance: Christies South Kensington - Auction 9th May 2003, Lot 63
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A mid 20th Century "Clocking-In" clock by The British Time Recorder Co. Ltd, London, in oak and painted cast metal case, 13ins wide x 11ins deep x 39ins high £100-150
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A late 19th/early 20th Century American counter top cash register by The National Cash Register Co., Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A., No. S348828, the ornate chromium plated metal casing with glazed top section displaying amounts, with marble slab to top of cash drawer, 19ins wide x 16ins deep x 16ins high £200-300
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