Is This Normal?

[SonnyPhono]

I came across this Edison Home and noticed that the reproducer was green. Has this been painted or were there some that came like this?

[phonogfp]

When the Model H Reproducers were introduced in 1908 to play wax Amberol records, their tube plates were dyed green to aid owners in distinguishing between the 2-minute C and the 4-minute H. Frankly, I'm not sure how long this practice continued. Sometimes you'll encounter an H with just a subtle green tinge, as the color has faded over the years, which raises the question of how many have lost their green dye.

The "Home" you pictured has a 4-minute attachment, so the H is perfectly legitimate for it.

George P.

[SonnyPhono]

Great information! Thank you very much George!

So does this add any value at all? Also, you mentioned that this has a four minute attachment, but this has the capability of playing two minute cylinders as well provided I use the proper reproducer?

Thanks again for the information!

[estott]

Usually there's a lever at the left end of the feedscrew to switch between 2 and 4 minute gearing- I don't see that on this one. Could this be one of the ones which were dealer converted and locked into 4 minute speed?

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Methinks that machine has been refinished and the wrong decal placed on it. I think that case should just have the " Edison" logo. No??

[SonnyPhono]

I don't know. I don't think that it looks like it has been refinished as the decal has some bad places and the cabinet is pretty rough in some spots. I could be wrong though. Here is another picture of it if it will help.

[bostonmike1]

Usually there's a lever at the left end of the feedscrew to switch between 2 and 4 minute gearing- I don't see that on this one. Could this be one of the ones which were dealer converted and locked into 4 minute speed?

Maybe George can shed some light on this because I am confused along with the decal shown also. Michael

[FellowCollector]

Later Edisons with the 2 and 4 minute gearing did not have the dial and stamped "2" and "4" on the dial base for changing between gears. The user simply grabbed the larger pulley and gave it a tug or pushed it in to make the change in gearing. This was almost certainly to reduce production costs. Doug

[gramophoneshane]

Methinks that machine has been refinished and the wrong decal placed on it. I think that case should just have the " Edison" logo. No??

I think you are right! The moulding around the base is not that of the model A or even a B Home.
I think the Model C was the cross-over model (?) but by the release of the Model D they all had the deeper moulding.
The horn is also that of a Standard, the Home having an 11 panel horn.

The 4 min Model H reproducer was indeed dyed green to match the 4 min Amberol boxes, and the 4 min recorder was dyed yellow, which also matched the 4 min blanks box.

[phonogfp]

The machine is a Model C or higher; note the absence of an endgate. The banner decal was not used beyond the early Model B, so it's not correct, but that could be fixed. The machine should be capable of playing both 2 & 4 minute cylinders with the proper reproducers. The Hawthorne & Sheble crane is a nice bonus if it's complete, but its base looks suspect, and the upper rod is either from a different crane or home-made.

When considering machines such as this one - - machines which have been "restored," be sure to carefully check the motor, feedscrew, and reproducer to be sure that Mister Fixit didn't inflict irreparable damage. The hardest part of restorations is fixing other people's mistakes!

George P.