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Hi -

The recent question about 7-pillar wood grilles on the Amberola V got me thinking that it might be fun and interesting to compile data on that model. I just posted that to the grille pillar thread, but to get more interest and input to the parameters we will track, I'm starting a new thread. Here's the info:



I think the V is low enough production, and special enough of a machine, to start compiling this sort of info plus more - similar to what others have done for Edisonics and Edison LP machines, and Amberolas and I suppose a few others.

We can start by setting up the questions, and I'll start:

1. Serial Number
2. Dealer badges/labels
3. Bedplate color
4. Cabinet wood species
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of pillars
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted
10. Other distinguishing features
11. Cabinet markings/labels
12. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)
13. Misc/other

What can we add, or edit, in the above list?

Nice idea!
Regarding items 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9:
From what I've seen and read there's just one bedplate color: dark brown with pinstriping.
The fragile wooden front grills seem to so often be damaged or missing entirely, which would lead me to wonder how many existing grills would likely be reproductions or swapped out from other models. Maybe owners could add which type they believe their's is.
All Vs I've seen have woodgrain painted horns, and I've not come across any with factory-installed grillcloths.
These are often missing the original bun feet, but I don't know if something you'd want to list in a registry.
I'm ready to enter mine! Thanks for taking this on!
Bob

Yeah, I thought about the li'l bun feet as well, but they are more of a maintenance issue than a factory feature. But sure, let's add them.

I'll wait for more input from the rest of the gang, and then we can get started. The V is one of my most favorite phonos, and I think they are underappreciated and undervalued in the marketplace.

There are, or course two distinct models of the Amberola V. As Frow states in his book, after the December 1914 factory fire, Edison was left with 850-odd Amberola V cabinets but no mechanisms to put in them. Thus was created the Vb model with has an Amberola 50/75 motor and horn in a "standard" Amberola V cabinet.

Are you interested in those models as well?

Tim W-W

Sure, good point! Will add the post-fire hybrid to the list. I wonder if anyone has a picture of the ID plate for one of those handy?

Revised question list:

1. Serial Number (with photo of ID plate if possible)
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content?
3. Bedplate color?
4. Cabinet wood species and finish?
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"?
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws?
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material?
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details?
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted?
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom?
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc?
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)?
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals?
15. Misc/other info and details, such as family history, unusual stories, etc.
16. Please upload photo(s) with your posting if possible.

Anything else?

Here goes with my B5 (Photos below)

1. Serial Number (with photo of ID plate if possible)
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content?
3. Bedplate color? Black
4. Cabinet wood species and finish?
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"?
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws?
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material?
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details?
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted?
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom?
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc?
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)?
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals?

Answers
1. 433
2. Nil
3. Black
4. Mahogany (now dull but I suspect originally piano finish)
5. Metal Grill 7 Pillars
6. Screws only
7. Yes, red-ish brown colour to match the cabinet - no idea what it's made of
8. Pin striping in gold as per the early Amberola 30,50 and 75s.
9. Black metal
10.Yes
11/12/13. Nil
14.Post-Fire hybrid

Hope this all helps

All the best

Tim W-W

Sorry I've taken so long posting mine. Pictures below!

1. Serial Number 1814
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content? No
3. Bedplate color? Dark Brown
4. Cabinet wood species and finish? Oak
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"? Wooden grill, 6 pillars
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws? Pins and Screws
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material? No
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details? Pinstriping yes
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted? Wood-grained
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom? Yes, original
No to the following:
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc?
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)?
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals?

1. Serial Number 621
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content? No
3. Bedplate color? Dark Brown
4. Cabinet wood species and finish? Mahogany
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"? Wooden grill, 7 pillars
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws? Pins and Screws
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material? No
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details? Pinstriping yes
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted? Wood-grained
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom? Yes, original
No to the following:
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc?
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)?
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals?

1. Serial Number 3030
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content? No
3. Bedplate color? Dark Brown
4. Cabinet wood species and finish? Mahogany
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"? Wooden grill, 6 pillars, modern reproduction
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws? Pins and Screws
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material? No
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details? Pinstriping yes
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted? Wood-grained
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom? Yes, reproductions
No to the following:
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc?
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)?
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals?

I really like Amberola Vs!

Bob

1. Serial Number 249
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content? No
3. Bedplate color? Dark Brown
4. Cabinet wood species and finish? Mahogany
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"? Improper Reproduction
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws? Pins and Screws
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material? No
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details? Pinstriping yes
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted? Wood-grained
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom? No
11. Other distinguishing features? No
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc? No
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)? No
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals? No

Thanks very much to everyone who has responded so far!

Feel free to add stuff you find online, for machines you don't necessarily own or have direct access. At some point as time allows, I'll try to mine this forum for info from past postings. I recall, for instance, a very long string of postings on a beautiful oak example with a noisy motor, where the forum banded together to help the new owner troubleshoot and fix it - virtually.