Edison Standard worth restoring?

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
Jerry B.
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 8511
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:25 am
Personal Text: Stop for a visit when in Oregon.
Location: Albany, Oregon

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by Jerry B. »

It should play everything except a Busy Bee cylinder which will only fit a Busy Bee mandrel. Jerry B.

tomb
Victor IV
Posts: 1381
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:46 pm
Location: riverside calif

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by tomb »

I am excited and waiting.... Tom :roll:

KCW
Victor II
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:04 pm

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by KCW »

Hello everyone! So here are the pictures of the restored S845 Edison Square top standard. The original pre-restoration photos are earlier in the thread. Thanks everyone for the advice on bringing this one back to life. Shenandoah Restorations did the work and all the parts and pieces came from croakinfrog on eBay. Apparently this likely came originally from someone in New Jersey, so not too far from Edison. The low serial number, I think, puts into the late 1890s. The lid came from a four clip, but is barely noticeable. The original piece had no mandrel or reproducer but was otherwise complete.I don’t know if originally there was black paint over the serial number, but otherwise I think it looks great! I will post a video of it playing soon - thanks everyone!

KCW
Victor II
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:04 pm

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by KCW »

Hello everyone! So here are the pictures of the restored S845 Edison Square top standard. The original pre-restoration photos are earlier in the thread. Thanks everyone for the advice on bringing this one back to life. Shenandoah Restorations did the work and all the parts and pieces came from croakinfrog on eBay. Apparently this likely came originally from someone in New Jersey, so not too far from Edison. The low serial number, I think, puts into the late 1890s. The lid came from a four clip, but is barely noticeable. The original piece had no mandrel or reproducer but was otherwise complete.I don’t know if originally there was black paint over the serial number, but otherwise I think it looks great! I will post a video of it playing soon - thanks everyone!

KCW
Victor II
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:04 pm

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by KCW »

Photos below:
Attachments
1685393D-D980-45BC-8983-E84052FAFC13.jpeg
8F7E23FB-888B-4FF8-B802-99144725545E.jpeg
1F495564-5775-4024-B635-3A94E34AC5C5.jpeg
F63C9DB4-E2E0-45E6-93F0-5712D0D87ABB.jpeg
5F3ED4A2-36F9-4388-9B03-7D26EAB31A42.jpeg
42E8C517-0056-415D-9CBB-0D327BC29062.jpeg
430994B2-8B46-41D0-B1F7-D6A511781ABE.jpeg
F22FC65D-CF01-4212-8C44-F3F47DC2DBC5.jpeg
AF8FBCA0-0704-43F4-B9F1-DE1D98D7A3C1.jpeg
B38CE2F6-03FD-4F66-87EE-DCAC079570A3.jpeg
B3B23CA5-39B3-4126-B861-171B938A2697.jpeg

AmberolaAndy
Victor V
Posts: 2417
Joined: Fri May 26, 2017 10:15 pm
Location: A small town near Omaha, Nebraska

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by AmberolaAndy »

KCW wrote:Photos below:
Lookin good! Hope you have better luck getting brown wax records for it than I’ve had! :lol:

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by Curt A »

Considering the rusted/corroded condition that this was originally in, the restoration results are amazing... I would be interested in the method used to de-rust the motor and lower works... Glad you decided to take it on and bring it back from near death... :D

One thing you have to say about Edison machines is that they were not built with planned obsolescence... Over built like tanks, they really take abuse :roll: - throw them in a wet basement, leave them in a hot attic, store them in a chicken coop or barn for a hundred years then bring them out, clean them up, lubricate the parts and they are ready for another 100+ years - hopefully without the same amount of abuse... :?
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

tomb
Victor IV
Posts: 1381
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:46 pm
Location: riverside calif

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by tomb »

I have one in the early 1200 range and the serial number is not painted. It also has a one screw carriage and no gear cover like yours. That looks good now and you can enjoy it. That is one of the earlier one known. It came from the factory with a standard reproducer but an automatic will do. A good standard is pricy and an automatic is more reasonable with the benefit of playing louder. Enjoy your new toy and in one year let us know your phonograph count. Tom

tomb
Victor IV
Posts: 1381
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 10:46 pm
Location: riverside calif

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by tomb »

I forgot to say Shenandoah is a good place. They converted one of my cygnet horns to a oak finish several years ago and it looks great. Tom

KCW
Victor II
Posts: 362
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:04 pm

Re: Edison Standard worth restoring?

Post by KCW »

Would this machine originally had a shaver attached? I was thinking of adding one for completeness, but would not likely use it. Also - the restorer fashioned a brass piece (see the pictures) to hold the reproducer in the carriage with the two screws. What originally would have been used? Are there any photos as a reference? Looks like the later models would have had four screws and he arrangement looks a little different. Thanks everyone! Learning so much!

Post Reply