The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I apologize to those who frown on posts regarding eBay items. I usually do not do this. But I came across this tonight and was wondering what the tags mean or if anyone has seen anything like this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/THOMAS-A-EDISON-PHO ... 3caa1dbbf5

It is intriguing.

The listing mentions an original patent. If you read the tags they almost look like something that would be submitted to a patent office. Could this somehow be an original piece submitted for patent purposes? I would love to know more.

Ediphone - isn't that a 1920's dictaphone?

How easy or cost effective would it have been, in the pre-laser printed days, to print a one-off label for an item, and why would the word "valuable" be included on it? What would one pay for a complete Ediphone - I doubt it would be very much.

So, I cannot really figure this lot out?

The earlier Ediphones had a reproducer/recorder that was interchangable with a phono reproducer, but this one is from a later black cased model. My Ediphone has the same reproducer/record, which I think is a model D judging by the serial no. D 296707, and dates from the mid 20's as far as I know.
I'm not sure if the later grey machines used the same one or not??
I think the tags are more interesting than reproducer itself
It would be nice to know the story behind them.

Did you check out the horn the same seller is offering with his Gem?
Very weird!

That "horn" looks more like a hanging vase to me!

George P.

Sidewinder wrote:Ediphone - isn't that a 1920's dictaphone?

How easy or cost effective would it have been, in the pre-laser printed days, to print a one-off label for an item, and why would the word "valuable" be included on it? What would one pay for a complete Ediphone - I doubt it would be very much.

So, I cannot really figure this lot out?

I think the clue to solve is "Ediphone Museum". Anyone ever heard of the Ediphone Museum? Google hasn't (yet).

phonogfp wrote:That "horn" looks more like a hanging vase to me!

George P.

Ah, I think you're right George. I can imagine it being the centre trumpet of an epergne or something similar. The color of the brass inside looks about the same as some of my brass vases & jardineres that have held water too.

Here's an Ediphone on the Seattle Craigslist:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/atq/1590539744.html

I too am not as interested in the actual piece for sale as I am the tags. I would love to know what they are from or what their original intentions were.