The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all. I have the opportunity to pick up a Steger 501 which plays quite well at a good price. I know interest in off brand machines is iffy for most but anyone have an opinion on the Stegers? I can't seem to trace any recent machine sales for the brand.

Hello,
I have a Steiger upright don't know the model number Steiger and Sons was a piano Company the only two I have ever seen had very fancy cabinets well constructed
mine has a Dayton number 9 two spring motor the spring barrels are similar in design to the saal motor that are in silvertone machines my Steiger is one of my favorite machines

A friend has an oak Steger in a case that looks similar to Victorian Eastlake furniture. I personally like it better than most other uprights that I have seen, including Victrolas, etc. I really don't know why unique off brand machines are diminished by collectors... although as a rule, most off brands are cheaply built and ugly.

Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. C., Chicago, began making phonographs in 1919. This was one of many,many piano builders that branched out to make phonographs. The advantage was the ability to make good quality cabinets and most already had a business reputation for the musical trade.

We love those off-brands and love doing the historical research on them too.

Here are two advertisements from 1920. The model of your machine is not pictured, but this will give you an idea of what they had in the talking machine market.

All the best,

Thanks to all! I have yet to find any info from the internet on model 501. It looks very similar to 502. If anyone has any info on the 501, I'd appreciate any leads. thanks!

78recordpicker wrote:Thanks to all! I have yet to find any info from the internet on model 501. It looks very similar to 502. If anyone has any info on the 501, I'd appreciate any leads. thanks!

I spotted this ad featuring the 501 doing a Google Books search --
(From -- https://books.google.com/books?id=Mfk4A ... &q&f=false )

OrthoFan

Thanks Victor IV, I could not find that.

Here's one more

78recordpicker wrote:Thanks Victor IV, I could not find that.

Actually, I'm OrthoFan. "Victor IV" is my ranking.

In any event, if you haven't seen it, there's an article about the Steger phonographs starting on page 4 of issue 69 of the "New Amberola Graphic. It includes an illustration of your model, and is available on the Internet Archives site -- https://archive.org/details/NAG69

In case you have trouble viewing it, here's a PDF version of the issue which I downloaded from the page:
Hope this helps.

OrthoFan

Thanks OrthoFan! Fantastic info. I'll have to give a try to play a Pathé to see how the tone arm plays verticals. I did buy it. Here it is: