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Has anyone successfully retrofitted an amberola 1A mech into an Opera case? There appears to be a lever to the left of the mech below the bedplate that would interfere with such an effort. Is anyone making a reproduction cabinet that would take care of this problem?

Looking for a Zonophone rear-mount horn with elbow. Preferably a floral style horn and not the brass bell type.

Looking for the horn stantion for an Edison Opera Phonograph. See pic.

Any info, prices or referrals would be most appreciated.

Thx, Harry

There aren't exactly a ton of spare Amberola 1A motors lying around, nor spare Opera cases for that matter, so I wouldn't think there were many people trying to mate them. I did briefly consider trying to put a 1A motor into a Victor Credenza temporarily to see how it would sound. Maybe someday.

I have seen an Opera mechanism awkwardly stuffed into a Triumph case. It wasn't pretty...

There would be no need to "stuff" a 1A motor into a Triumph case since
the bed plates are the same size. Triumph F cases were in some cases
the same as the Opera cases. I have an early 1A mech and the rod on the
right is easily removed by loosening a small screw. I thought this might
be a nice way to make a 2/4 minute Opera.

erunltd wrote:Has anyone successfully retrofitted an amberola 1A mech into an Opera case? There appears to be a lever to the left of the mech below the bedplate that would interfere with such an effort. Is anyone making a reproduction cabinet that would take care of this problem?

Thx, Harry

I had one of these come across my work bench probably 20 years ago. Spring work if I remember correctly. It was a 1A mech in a new case that looked like a oak Opera. If I remember right the new case was about ½" taller than an original Opera case. The 1A mech was to tall to fit in a original Opera case.
The owner knew what he had and loved it because he could play 2 & 4 minute cylinders while looking like a oak Opera.

Larry Crandell

Thanks Larry for your info. It confirms my thoughts.

The bedplate on the 1A is about 14.6" wide by 9" deep.
I would be OK with a case bottom that is similar to an
Opera case. I have seen some unusual cases in the past
that would have worked perfectly. You make a good point
about the depth of the motor itself.

Thx, Harry

Apparently a reproduction Opera case was made to house the
Edison Amberola 1A. Any further info about this would be
most appreciated.

I am told an Oak Edison Triumph F case (with the small columns
on the corner) would also work.