GRAMOPHONE

From the estate of Mr John Wray, 21 Rhodes Street, Kalgoorlie. Mr Wray was born in Kalgoorlie in 1915. His father was Frederick Wray, b. England, his mother was Florence, from Ballarat. John was taken gold mining at Boorarah Road [by his father I think - Jill's handwriting difficult to read] Had a show at Golden Mile and at Ding Bat Flats. John worked with the Kalgoorlie Roads Board except when in the army at a "munition place" [Northam?]. He bought his house in Rhodes Street after the war, where he lived his life out. He had a sister in Esperance. Decca portable gramophone; very similar to photograph of Decca "Bowl-reflector" portable gramophone in fig. 91 in "Phonographs & Gramophones: An Edison Centenary Exhibition". Arm folds up into lid, gramophone lid must be propped vertically in order to work. This concave lid must have acoustic function. Has "DECCA / "JUNIOR" / MADE IN LONDON" impressed in this lid. Has had replacement head made from Scotch tape tin which has been soldered onto original arm fitting. winding handle stored underneath arm in lid; hole for winder is on RH side. Turntable is covered in blue felt; looks like this has been replaced.Has compartment for needles at LH rear, button which unscrews to allow turntable to rotate at RH front, and lever to stop rotation at LH front. Handle is at LH side, not front.

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History Collection

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