The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Can anyone help identify which model Edison cylinder machine that I have? It’s one of my father’s machines marked Edison Home Phonograph serial number 397374F(?) I’m a beginner in all this and have no clue about cylinder machines. In searching here I understand that there is no readily accessible website to look up Edison serial numbers as with the Victor Victrola page. Thanks!

I believe your Edison machine is a Home Model C.
Quoting George Frow's Book: "Issued some time after mid -February 1908 and sold initially only in the State of New York, the Model C was not dissimilar to Model B in motor design, but above the top plate the swing-arm was no longer fitted and the mandrel was supported on a central bearing. A push button lift was fitted to the carrier-arm. Early in 1908 there was a small modification to governor construction when an additional collar with wire spring attached to the adjoining collar was put on the governor shaft. A Home with new horn and crane sold for $35.00."
The reproducer on yours is upside-down. Check to see if it is a model C or K.
If a K, it might indicate the machine is a Model D comination 2-4 minute machine, though I can't tell from the pictures if there is the necessary gearing on the left side of the belt pulley.
Bob

That is a Home Model F. Introduced in 1912 and was the last model of the Home..

Rich Gordon

You're right Rich!
I should have read further in the book!
Bob

My 2 cents as the owner of an "F" and from reading Frow--

The Home F was intended as a 4-minute only machine, equipped with a Diamond B reproducer in a horizontal carriage. The 2/4 gearing was locked into 4 minute mode by a simple, small spacer on the shaft that will not allow it to shift into 2 minute mode. The same top casting from a D or E was used-- If you look carefully, the gold stenciled 2/4 directional marking just in front of the pulley may have been painted over at the factory since it will not shift to 2 minutes. That was done to mine, and it looks like it may be the case on the poster's machine as well.

It is very easy to simply remove the small spacer and convert it back to 2/4. The poster's F looks to have been converted to 2/4 and a slant-front carriage added.

The machine looks very nice-- the horn is messed up, but that's a minor detail-- The "F" machines don't turn up very often.

Brad Abell

"That is a Home Model F. Introduced in 1912 and was the last model of the Home.."

That's correct.

It's a rather RARE machine.. Nice find! Not a bad machine at all for a first find!!! You scored!!!

PS: Ditch the Horn...as it's trash...and hunt for a nice original on ebay.. Your Horn crane also looks correct as well..

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

How difficult would it be to find the correct carriagek and reproducer for this machine? Jerry

Don’t think it would be that difficult.

Rich Gordon

Correct me if I'm wrong.
Didn't all the Home F's come with a Cygnet Horn. The back of the case is not pictured so maybe the original bracket holes are there.

Larry Crandell

You are correct in that assumption. The Home Model F came with either a Oak finish metal cygnet horn or a Oak Music Master wood cygnet horn.

Rich Gordon