Columbia BH



This article is part of the ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH, GRAMOPHONE AND TALKING MACHINE IDENTIFICATION GUIDES.
SEE ALSO: Our listings of outside horn talking machines for sale.


The identification of this little machine often trips up beginning collectors. Stylistically it draws from the Columbia AJ, AH and later BI, and if one isn't careful it can be confused at first glance with the BI. However the BH is somewhat smaller than the BI, and employs a black painted backbracket rather than a nickel plated bracket. The BH is fairly scarce, having been manufactured for only around one year, beginning 1906. It was fitted with a typical Columbia single spring motor. Some examples have a piece of paper on the underside with the model designation.

Columbia type BH
Most examples have appeared with a black petaled horn. Larger image