Amberola V Registry is Ready for YOUR data!

[PeterF]

Very nice! Thanks for your input.

[hbick2]

I haven’t bought a phonograph in twenty years or so. When I saw this one for sale, however, I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve always been intrigued by the Amberola V mechanism but have never had the opportunity work on one or pick one up at a reasonable price. This one is pretty special. It appears to be totally original and has all of the desirable features intact. I do have several questions for the group, however:

1. What color is the bedplate? It’s not the same color brown as my oak Opera nor is it the same color maroon as a maroon gem.
Is there a name for this color?

2. Does this grill cloth appear to be original? It looks pretty original to
me. It certainly has been in there for a long time.


1. Serial Number: #4487
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content? None
3. Bedplate color? Dark Brown/Maroon
4. Cabinet wood species and finish? Mahogany-Dark
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of “pillars"? Wooden w. 7 pillars
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws? Screws only
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material? Present-grey/brown
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details? Yes-pinstriping
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted? Wood-grained
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom? Yes
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc? None
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)? None
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals? NA
15. Misc/other info and details, such as family history, unusual stories, etc. This phonograph recently came out of an estate in Southern Indiana. It is totally original and has never been in the hands of a collector/dealer.
16. Please upload photo(s) with your posting if possible. Done

[PeterF]

Thanks!

I kinda like that missing tooth. Too bad the grill cloth is there, in a way, because the painted faux grain on the horn is quite attractive.

Congrats on a great find.

[hbick2]

I'm a retired dentist so I know how to deal with missing teeth.

[PeterF]

That’s hilarious.

My dentist and I are friends outside of work - as his client now for over 40 years - and so we are out and about together at times. I had a cracked tooth removed a couple of years ago (1st premolar, upper right side, so it usually doesn’t show) and haven’t gotten around to getting an implant. So that sets it up for me to:

- introduce my friend John
- mention that he’s also my dentist
- pull back my lip to reveal the missing tooth
- loudly ask “how’s he doing?”

[chewy]

1. Serial Number (with photo of ID plate if possible) 5359
2. Dealer badges/labels, and content? No special stuff
3. Bedplate color? ???
4. Cabinet wood species and finish? mahog
5. Metal or wooden grille, and number of "pillars"? Wood repro (7)
6. Back grille attached with screws only, or with pins and screws? Screws
7. Grille cloth present, and if so, color, pattern, and material? N
8. Pinstriping and other decorative details? Y
9. Wood-grained horn, or plain painted? PLAIN PAINTED
10. Small "bun" feet present on cabinet bottom? Y
11. Other distinguishing features?
12. Cabinet markings/labels, such as serial numbers, cabinet maker labels, etc? The Diamond B’s serial is 77803
13. Accompanying paperwork (packing slips, purchase contracts/receipts, etc)? N
14. Is it the post-fire hybrid "Amberola Vb" created to use surplus V cabinets but containing Amberola 50 internals? ****NO****
15. Misc/other info and details, such as family history, unusual stories, etc. ITS THE HIGHEST SERIAL IN THIS (small) REGISTRY SO FAR but I really can’t discern if it’s one of the 33 survivors or not
16. Please upload photo(s) with your posting if possible.

[chewy]

wait everyone go back and input your Diamond B serials. This data is useful. It will allow me to see the seperation in numbers between my 5xxx and your 4xxx's etc vs the reprodcer numbers

[cheryla]

Serial number 5428
No dealer badge
Bedplate color – dark brown
Cabinet mahogany
Metal grill with seven columns
No grill cloth
Back grill held with screws
Pinstriping
Wood grain horn
Small bun feet
No distinguishing features
No paperwork
Diamond B serial number 98114
Not post-fire hybrid

[LimeTree99]

Picked this machine up off eBay recently:

1. Serial No. 5396
2. No dealer badges or markings
3. Bedplate color is dark brown, paint about 60% present
4. Cabinet is mahogany
5. Metal grille, which has 7 pillars
6. Back wood grille is attached with 4 screws at the corners
7. Grille cloth not present
8. Pinstriping about 75% present on bedplate, carriage, and governor/flywheel cover. Front two "bun" feet missing, back 2 intact.
9. Horn paint badly worn, inside appears to have once been wood grain. The part sticking above the back grille is solid black
10. No distinguishing features, other than rippled/split veneer from aging on left side and rear cabinet panels
11. No cabinet markings or labels
12. Paper tag tacked to the inside of the cabinet: "This tag must remain with cabinet" (Form 832) stamped with "AUG 26 1914" and a workman's check number I couldn't make out.