The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

ok so here is an actual lost treasure.... Which one of you has been holding out on us? But more importantly which one of you is going to buy it for me?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-American-Graphophone-Co-Graphophone-Type-K_W0QQitemZ330319344521QQihZ014QQcategoryZ1442QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This one almost looks to good to be true...anyone know whose it is??
I hope someone out there has the money for this one. Its certainly one to be proud of.

Aaron

Aaron,

Nice find. Sorry, but I’m not buying it for you.

— MordEth

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eBay Item #330319344521

Antique American Graphophone Co. Graphophone Type K

This is a Type K PERFECTED GRAPHOPHONE by the AMERICAN GRAPHOPHONE COMPANY of WASHINGTON, D.C. On the inside of the lid there is a paper label (see photo) with the last patent date being 1894. It is rather large, with the lid on it measures 12 ½" high (not including handle) x 14 ¾" wide x 8 ⅞" deep and it weighs 20 pounds. It has a very nice oak case and appears to be in very good condition. It is missing the horn, crank and I believe the reproducer. Please take a look at my photos, if you know these machines, you can take a visual inventory of completeness better than me. These played cylinder records. The metal plate on the bed of the machine identifies it as a TYPE K (see photo). Because of my lack of knowledge, I am selling it AS IS. This appears to be a well maintained machine and is finely made. High bid pays postage and insurance.

Geeminy Christmas! Is it really possible that a Type "K" could surface from the wild in 2009?? It even retains its aluminum detachable mandrel... The seller has no reserve on it, either. I think he's in for a very, very, nice surprise!

George P.

I have the feeling that this is going to go for a rather large sum, considering that it has 6 days and 22 hours to go.

George: Out of curiosity, how rare was this machine?

— MordEth

My goodness gracious, what a wonderfully early Columbia Graphophone. What type of horn and reproducer would have originally issued with this machine, or would it have had ear tubes??

The word "rare" is of course a relative term. To collectors of antique talking machines, any of the Graphophones employing the old A-frame chassis of the treadle models is rare. The most jaded among us would agree that, of the treadle-topped Graphophones, the Type "K" is the most "common." But that's akin to discussing the most "common" form of Gutenburg Bible. Our friend Howard Hazelcorn estimates that there are possibly 15 Type "K" Graphophones in existence. From my observations, he can't be far off - - certainly no more than 20. This example features the early round on/off control and transitional "Perfected Graphophone" decal, too. For a collector like me, it's the best eBay machine in the past several years!

This machine used a black gutta percha reproducer (that will be a tough one to find!), and was offered by retailers with various equipment depending on the intended use: 26" black conical horns for exhibition, multiple listening tubes for exhibition, or single listening tubes for business use.

George P.

George,

I agree with you on this, but for you to be excited about it turning up on eBay, I figured that it was probably rather uncommon.

Thanks for the explanation and estimations of how many are in existence.


I was rather impressed with the condition of the decal; it seems this machine was well-treated and has aged well.


Does anyone have an example of what one of these looks like? I’d be curious to see one.

George: Thanks again for the information. (And Aaron, thanks for bringing it to our attention.)

— MordEth

Hmmm..... I thought there was a reserve on it when i posted it... but indeed the seller will be very very suprised when he finds out how much this will go for...


And Dave indeed if George thinks its an unusually find it certainly is....

I always wanted to start collection earlier columbia (dont shoot me but i like them a bit more then Edison's...sorry Tom) But because of there of there price and scarcity they are not something for a 14 year old (soon to be 15 years old on the 21st... i am still thinking early birthday present) to be collecting.....

Best Regards,
Aaron

NICE FIND Aaron. The only bad thing is that you didn't find it yourself at some garage sale locally for $75! Had that been the case I might even have bought it for you!

The chances of a machine like this turning up in such good condition, not already part of a collection are REALLY low as others have noted.

Cheers, Bruce

Here's a gutta percha reproducer. (This one is mounted on an earlier Type "U" Graphophone - - note the absence of a shaver.) These gutta percha reproducers are constructed in essentially the same manner as the later aluminum ones, but are a bit lighter and don't reproduce with as much volume.

George P.