Victrola or Grafonola?

Months ago, I bought an old floor model phonograph at an online auction, sight unseen other than the one photo on the site. When I picked it up at the auction house, I had a twinge of buyer's remorse. Another big, clunky piece of furniture to take up space in the room we call the salon: A large family room my antiques side gig has taken over for the last 10 years. My goal is to empty the room out by end of year and this old record player wasn't going to help. I just couldn't resist it though. Early music listening devices are fascinating, thus why I've bought several hand-crank phonographs over the years. It's amazing that what appears to be such crude technology still operates more than 100 years later. I question whether my current "Ion Ttusb" turntable will still function with its fancy way of allowing me to download my vinyl music collection via a USB port. So, to clarify, Victrolas and Grafonolas are brand names of early phonographs. In the early 20th century, the beloved wax cylinders invented by Thomas Edison gave way to disc records; up until this time, all phonographs employed external horns for their sound reproduction. In 1907, however, Columbia began producing the Grafonola, with a concealed, internal-horn phonograph to compete with its archrival Victor Co.'s hugely popular new Victrolas. This new design of phonographs with internal horns was to produce more high-end, furniture-looking pieces. Demand had been created for these new, stylish record players and those funky external horns faded away. Originally, both Grafonolas and Victrolas used spring motors that required winding with a crank. In 1915, both companies also began producing electric motor-driven models that eliminated the crank but these proved to be less popular due to their high cost and reliance on electric service which was not readily available everywhere. Recorded music technology continued to evolve and in 1923, the Columbia American Grafonola manufacturing ceased when the company was bought out by a British entrepreneur, Luis Sterling. Columbia Graphophone Company then merged with the Gramophone Company in 1931 and Electric and Music Industries LLC was formed (EMI). Antique phonographs are highly collectible though Victor Victrolas are more popular and the table-top models also tend to be more desirable than the big, furniture-style models like I've got today. I'll put it in my shop, though, and see if anyone's taken by its sweet retro look and its not-so-sweet sound. I also got a collection of old disks — everything from "She's the Lass for Me" by Harry Lauder to some cool, old opera and even one that features a very Scottish brogue. They all come across a bit on the shrill side but still lots of fun to admire. Imagine winding up the old Grafonola one night when the power goes out, sipping a glass of wine and appreciating the scratchy, somewhat distorted sounding old opera record. Very atmospheric!