Featured Phonograph No.152- Edison A-450 Louis XVI

[Josh_boro20]

Make: Edison
Model: A-450
Serial #: 1388-A1 cabinet number 2762
Year(s) Made: 1912-1916
Original Cost: $450
Case/Cabinet Size: 49 ½ in height 22 in width and a depth of 22 ½ in.
Turntable/Mandrel: 12 in
Reproducer/Sound-Box: standard diamond reproducer, with size 150 horn
Motor: double spring
Horn Dimensions: 15 1/2in by 10in
Reproduction Parts: none.
Current Value: 20k
Interesting Facts: what I find most unique about this machine is the absence of a mute ball. The machine is all original with original paint and finish. Bed plate has very minor wear and the horn presents nicely. Special thanks to Raphael and Brice Paris for helping me acquire such a beautiful machine.

[Herderz]

You have a very beautiful machine, love the details to the cabinet.

[Josh_boro20]

Thank you so much, the Circassian walnut just sparkles on this machine. I also apologize for the pictures appearing rotated. If you click on a photo it turns right side up.

[Herderz]

The detail in the grill is absolutely beautiful, I am surprised that it stayed intact all these years. Something that would be very hard to replace. I like how the horn has the faux wood grain also.

[Josh_boro20]

The grill is one of my favorite parts of the machine, same with the painted horn. I believe when they switched the the b models and the larger 250 horns they started painted them black. The grill is very nice especially considering the age of the machine. No repairs or cracks. It’s been well taken care of during its 110 year life.

[Herderz]

I have and original C200. Nothing like this as far as the cabinet detail. It does have the "meatball" volume control that must of been added after the A model, and the horn is painted black.

[Josh_boro20]

That’s a nice machine you have, At some point I would like an b-250 so I can install my long play kit. Unfortunately it won’t work on the earlier A models. I’d love to see pictures of your c-200

[EdisonA450_Wish1]

This article was featured in The Edison Phonograph Monthly, February 1915. For those that may not be too familiar with Edisons, the model number was also the cost of the machine when it was introduced, although in many cases the price increased over time. So a $150 phonograph mentioned in this article is an A150, and so on. Enjoy!

TWO EDISON DIAMOND DISC PHONOGRAPHS SOLD TO ONE FAMILY

The Silverstone Music Co. in St. Louis report the sale to Mrs. George Rubelman of two Diamond Disc phonographs- a $450 Edison Disc for the parlor and a $150 Edison Disc for an upstairs room. These sales were made at the same time, and so thoroughly enthusiastic over the Edison was the customer that little talking was necessary- simply a matter of the choice of a second instrument, as the $450 was selected without a moments delay. Would that there were more musically appreciative people. We wonder if another Edison dealer can report a similar sale to one family.

"so thoroughly enthusiastic over the Edison was the customer that little talking was necessary"

"the $450 was selected without a moments delay"

A great little article documenting the joyful interaction between the customer and sales person regarding one of the finest phonographs ever designed.

Ray

[drh]

This article was featured in The Edison Phonograph Monthly, February 1915. For those that may not be too familiar with Edisons, the model number was also the cost of the machine when it was introduced, although in many cases the price increased over time. So a $150 phonograph mentioned in this article is an A150, and so on. Enjoy!

TWO EDISON DIAMOND DISC PHONOGRAPHS SOLD TO ONE FAMILY

The Silverstone Music Co. in St. Louis report the sale to Mrs. George Rubelman of two Diamond Disc phonographs- a $450 Edison Disc for the parlor and a $150 Edison Disc for an upstairs room. These sales were made at the same time, and so thoroughly enthusiastic over the Edison was the customer that little talking was necessary- simply a matter of the choice of a second instrument, as the $450 was selected without a moments delay. Would that there were more musically appreciative people. We wonder if another Edison dealer can report a similar sale to one family.

"so thoroughly enthusiastic over the Edison was the customer that little talking was necessary"

"the $450 was selected without a moments delay"

A great little article documenting the joyful interaction between the customer and sales person regarding one of the finest phonographs ever designed.

Ray

Mrs. George Rubelman must have been quite well-to-do--by one calculator, that $450 machine "selected without a moment's delay" would have cost better than $12,000 in today's money, and the entire package was upwards of $16,000.

Funny thing: that A-150 would have come with a set of six record storage albums for the shelf. I have one of those machines, and I love it enough that I went to pains to assemble a somewhat shopworn set of the original albums, one at a time, from various sources. Today, those albums are worth more than the machine is.

[UpstateNYBilly]

This is interesting information. Thanks for posting!
My Louis XV Edison actually came from my hometown of St Louis. I bought it years ago when I was in college. I believe paid $75 for it. My friend, Bill Meyer, did an expert rebuild on the machine a couple of years ago and now it's a showpiece! I'm wondering if it may have been from the same home that you mentioned. It was in a resale shop in downtown St Louis. I can't imagine there were many of this model were sold in my old stomping grounds back in the day.

Appreciate the post!
Bill