Which Edison A250 should I keep?

[DGPros]

At the auction on Sunday there was an A250 with a serial #17 that sold for $250. If I remember correctly, it wasn't in the best condition but still decent.

Are you very sure of that serial no. DGPros? I recall Ron D saying they started out at 1 or 200. Who knows though.

Yes, I remembered it be a 2 digit # with a 7 in it. I wish I would have done a more thorough look but there were so many machines. I was a bit over whelmed. I double checked the prices and the # which are posted on this sight.

[FloridaClay]

Dustie,

I would bet that you are right that the volume control you have is an aftermarket add on. (Maybe George can weigh in on that to confirm.) If that is the case it can be used with any Diamond Disc machine, so isn't really a factor on which one to keep. Your choice, of course, but if it were me and I could keep only one, I'd keep the machine that is in the best condition, and definitely not mix the parts of the two. You could then keep or sell the volume control attachment independent of that decision.

Clay

[Dustie89]

Thanks Clay. The after market factor has helped make my decision. These are the first a250's I've owned and I want a good one lol. BTW anyone live near Texas? We have a museum.

There's even more then the pictures.

[Dustie89]

Our favorites!

[phonogfp]

I highly doubt that the volume control is "aftermarket." Most likely it's an Edison part that was retrofitted. Of course, it can be removed and the machine will be in its original non-muffled state.

George P.

[Valecnik]

On the below link you can find the installations instructions for the A250 "Muting Device"

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ume#p48231

[phonogfp]

On the below link you can find the installations instructions for the A250 "Muting Device"

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ume#p48231

That's the ticket!

Thanks for posting that, Bruce.

George P.

[FloridaClay]

On the below link you can find the installations instructions for the A250 "Muting Device"

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ume#p48231

Yes, that's for the ball version.

If I remember correctly, Edison made conversion kits available to those with machines made before the "mute balls" were installed as a standard factory item. Valecnik's instruction booklet post is consistent with that. Frow indicates that shift occurred in November 1914. He indicates that both the mute ball and a damper at the reproducer end was originally considered, but implies that the former won out. He does say that sometime during WWI the mute ball was discontinued in favor of a damper at the reproducer end, but that the mute ball was reinstituted in July 1919. The WWI device he mentions looks a lot like the device that Dustie has from the picture. See Section 15, Sound Modifiers, on page 206 of The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs.

Clay

P.S. Frow indicates that the shift in the control arrangement for the mute ball from the vertical lift lever to the horizontal slide lever took place in February 1915.

[phonogfp]

On the below link you can find the installations instructions for the A250 "Muting Device"

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ume#p48231

Yes, that's for the ball version.

If I remember correctly, Edison made conversion kits available to those with machines made before the "mute balls" were installed as a standard factory item. Valecnik's instruction booklet post is consistent with that. Frow indicates that shift occurred in November 1914. He indicates that both the mute ball and a damper at the reproducer end was originally considered, but implies that the former won out. He does say that sometime during WWI the mute ball was discontinued in favor of a damper at the reproducer end, but that the mute ball was reinstituted in July 1919. The WWI device he mentions looks a lot like the device that Dustie has from the picture. See Section 15, Sound Modifiers, on page 206 of The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs.

Clay

P.S. Frow indicates that the shift in the control arrangement for the mute ball from the vertical lift lever to the horizontal slide lever took place in February 1915.

I had to dig pretty deep for this old thread! :

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... row#p14026

George P.

[Dustie89]

It was my mistake. By aftermarket I did inteand to mean it was made by Edison, but was bought as a seperate piece and added.