The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

ok, the machine itself doesn't look bad, but really? the earliest machine in existence???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDISON-FIRESIDE ... 519c44b618

this is from the same seller, some might recognize, who was routinely buying credenzas for a while and swapping out the brass reproducers for garbage and selling the machines to overseas bidders, if not just parting them out.


text from the listing...

"100% ORIGINAL EVERYTHING DOES NOT COME WITH HORN OR CABINET IT IS SITTING ON!


TRULY A COLLECTORS FIND WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE OFFERED FOR SALE AGAIN IN OUR LIFETIME DONT SNOOZE!!!!


INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING OUR SPECIALTY EMAIL FOR QUOTES DO NOT USE THE EBAY CALCULATOR


ORIGINAL MODEL K REPRODUCER PLAYS 2 AND 4 MINUTE CYLINDER RECORDS


PLAYS EXCELLENT"

Well, it's certainly one of the earliest FIRESIDES in existence! I wonder if that's what the seller meant?

Note the single gold pinstripe and "tufts of grass" decoration in the corners rather than the characteristic wide gold and blue stripes. I don't think I've seen a Fireside with this apparently early decoration.

George P.

The serial number "109" is difficult to undercut. I wouldn't be surprised if he sells the machine for this crazy price.

Shame it doesn't also retain the original horn & crane too. It's certainly the earliest Fireside I recall ever seeing.

I've seen a few with that early pin striping but not many. I happen to have one of them, SN 1941. I suppose that means there could have been at least a couple thousand made with the early decoration but then they could have produced multiple styles in parallel as with the early Amberolas...

First pic show it with an early, but I doubt factory made, extended top half of the crane to accommodate the larger horn.

Mike Tucker confirms the existence of Firesides #83 and #90 as well.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:Mike Tucker confirms the existence of Firesides #83 and #90 as well.

George P.

I would assume then that they have this earlier decoration too?

That's my assumption (but you know the old saying...!).

Thanks for posting photos of yours, Bruce!

George P.

phonogfp wrote:That's my assumption (but you know the old saying...!).

Thanks for posting photos of yours, Bruce!

George P.

Thanks, I added a pic with an after market horn and extended crane setup that I think is sort of interesting.

The seller has a great career ahead of him as a carnival barker. Someone should contact him and tell him he's making specious claims.