The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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

I am excited and waiting.... Tom

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!

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!

Photos below:

KCW wrote:Photos below:

Lookin good! Hope you have better luck getting brown wax records for it than I’ve had!

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...

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 - 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...

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

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

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!