Comparison of Amberola VIII and D-X

[phonogfp]

Some of you may remember in the September 2012 issue of The Sound Box there was an article titled, "Edison's Short-Lived Amberola Line of 1913-1914." In that article, the only machine of the line not pictured was an Amberola X.

Today my friend and new collector, Fran, brought his Amberola D-X over so we could compare the two machines. I thought this was interesting enough to take some photos and share them.

It should be remembered that the $45.00 Amberola VIII (equipped with a Fireside mechanism) and the $30.00 X (equipped with a Gem mechanism) were introduced in September 1913. The X's Gem motor had immediate difficulties, so a stronger mainspring was fitted (B-X), then more unsuccessful modifications (C-X), until, finally in July 1914, the D-X appeared - equipped with a Fireside motor. At this point the machines had the same mechanism but with a $15.00 difference in price. The VIII has a slightly larger horn and cabinet. The December 1914 factory fire ended production of both these models.

Here's what I find most interesting. This D-X (No.16297) retains not only the early style pinstripe and "tufts of grass" decoration, but the earlier trade mark decal as well. The VIII is the first of two variations, so likely predates this D-X, yet features the decorations and trade mark style seen on virtually all Edison phonographs since 1909. Why does this late-1914 D-X carry the early decorations and trade mark?

In any event, here are the two machines for comparison...

George P.

[MTPhono]

Hi George,

I own one of each model but rarely play them because my 30 is so much better. With the same reproducer used in each machine, do you find the DX much quieter than the VIII? I've messed with mine for years and cannot understand why it plays so much quieter.

Is the solid bedplate VIII rarer than the one show here? I've only seen a few and being the model whose production was prematurely cut short due to the fire, I'd assume that fewer were made.

Thanks,
Scott

[phonogfp]

Hi George,

I own one of each model but rarely play them because my 30 is so much better. With the same reproducer used in each machine, do you find the DX much quieter than the VIII? I've messed with mine for years and cannot understand why it plays so much quieter.

Is the solid bedplate VIII rarer than the one show here? I've only seen a few and being the model whose production was prematurely cut short due to the fire, I'd assume that fewer were made.

Thanks,
Scott

Scott,

We didn't play the machines today, so I can't comment on their relative motor noise. However, the mechanisms are the same, so any differences would likely be due to relative amounts of use/wear, frequency of lubrication over the years, cleanliness of the environment, etc.

Scott, which type of decoration does your D-X have?

George P.

[fran604g]

George,

Thank you for the opportunity to compare these two machines, today! I had a blast, as always.

The fact that you noticed the pin striping and trade mark being unusual really has me excited. I couldn't be happier that I wound up with a D-X that turned out to be an interesting addition to our community. I hope others here add their observations to enlighten us with answers to this oddity.

I never thought to compare the sound of each...another day!

Fran

[fran604g]

...oh, and by the way; Great pictures! Thank you!

[phonogal]

George, I have a D-X and it has the pin stripes and the corner tufts like Frans. Serial # is 23699. Jan.

[phonogfp]

Thanks Jan.

With a 7000 unit spread between your machine and Fran's, it sounds like many D-Xs (perhaps all of them?) have that early style decoration. I hope more owners will chime in.

But I'm still wondering - - WHY? That decoration in 1914 was a real throwback.

Here's an old thread about the decorations on the very earliest Firesides (1909) which resemble those on the D-X (1914):

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... t=Fireside

George P.

[Phonofreak]

I have an Amberola V in Mahogany that has the tufts of grass on the bed plate. I was surprised to see that. I, too am wondering why in 1913-14, the older style decoration was used.
Harvey Kravitz

[wjw]

Harvey, I have a V (also in mahogany) with the same decoration. Maybe an old employee had come back to work
-Bill

[phonogfp]

My V also has the old "tufts of grass" decoration, and I've never seen a V that didn't. But it looks odd on a Fireside!

George P.