Q: Can you tell me anything about an unusual miniature wind-up gramophone that I have acquired? It is all fitted inside a metal case that looks a bit like an old camera. You can take it out and assemble it and it will than play a record. It is made by a company called Excelda.

Mr J

A: This type of travelling gramophone was popular between 1930 and the mid 1950s and examples were made by a number of companies. This Excelda model came in several different colours, the most common being black, but it also did them in blue, green, red and silver. Key wound and operated by a small clockwork motor, the machines produced remarkably good sound quality for their day. An example in black is worth about a £100 or so, but the more brightly coloured examples in excellent condition can fetch nearer £200.