WANTED: Edison Camel hair chip brush ,oil can, screwdriver

[ehs004]

Here's what was in an early Home I bought a long time ago that had a three recorders and a couple of reproducers in it. There was a couple of those screwdrivers in that one and I always had the impression that the guy had an older version and kept some of the stuff that came with the first machine. I can dig around and see where the extra screwdriver went if you want. I do want to keep one of them and the brush.

Thanks Earl,
If you can duplicate any of the items in photos i would be very interested!
Also thanks for the nice posting.
Eric

[ehs004]

Just curious... What does the screw driver look like? Jerry

Jerry,
I can't find a picture ,only information that it came with a couple different types. Maybe in time someone in the Forum will have a picture to post of one? I hope to turn one up.
Jerry a couple of members on the forum were able to turn up some pictures.Thought you might be interested in seeing them.

[phonogfp]

Not to beat a dead horse, but the use of the phrase "...came with..." can be confusing. There's a difference between "original equipment" and "period equipment."

I found an earlier source for outfits similar to those from 1901 cited in George Frow's book(s). The February 1899 catalog describes three of them, and here's a scan:

But note on page 6 of the above scan (and the previous images I've posted in this thread) that a screwdriver was NOT part of the regular Home equipment. Neither was the multiple hearing tube, 12 records, nor most of the other equipment in Outfit No.58 and No.85.

The Fall 1901 Edison catalog contained the outfits cited by Frow (you can click this image twice to enlarge it):

Of course, owners could and did buy screwdrivers and other equipment for their talking machines. These extra aftermarket items are sometimes found with machines today. But we should not be confused or misled into believing that our machines necessarily "came with it" from the factory.

Here's an example: Below is a box of stuff that came with an AG Graphophone I purchased at a house sale in 1983. The AG came with two brass horns, floor stand, 16 Grand records, reproducer in the box, recorder in the box, and all the stuff in the box below - - including the original owner's business cards:

Note that the white rubber horn connectors and chip brush are clearly related to the Graphophone. The rest of the stuff? I don't even know what some of it is...! For me to assume that the contents of this box was original equipment for the AG would be a mistake.

I presume that the chip brush originally came with the Graphophone, but I don't know that for sure. It's stamped with a "1" on the handle (one inch wide), and marked "John Whiting & Son, Boston, USA."

To recap, there's no documentary evidence that screwdrivers were included with the regular Edison Home equipment, but only in the "Outfits" described in catalogs. Of course, adding a period piece (particularly an inexpensive model that would have been an appropriate accessory) gives the talking machine additional interest.

Okay...the horse is truly dead... Sorry - -

Good luck...

George P.

[ehs004]

Not to beat a dead horse, but the use of the phrase "...came with..." can be confusing. There's a difference between "original equipment" and "period equipment."

I found an earlier source for outfits similar to those from 1901 cited in George Frow's book(s). The February 1899 catalog describes three of them, and here's a scan:

Home1899a.jpg

But note on page 6 of the above scan (and the previous images I've posted in this thread) that a screwdriver was NOT part of the regular Home equipment. Neither was the multiple hearing tube, 12 records, nor most of the other equipment in Outfit No.58 and No.85.

The Fall 1901 Edison catalog contained the outfits cited by Frow (you can click this image twice to enlarge it):

Home1901a001.jpg

Of course, owners could and did buy screwdrivers and other equipment for their talking machines. These extra aftermarket items are sometimes found with machines today. But we should not be confused or misled into believing that our machines necessarily "came with it" from the factory.

Here's an example: Below is a box of stuff that came with an AG Graphophone I purchased at a house sale in 1983. The AG came with two brass horns, floor stand, 16 Grand records, reproducer in the box, recorder in the box, and all the stuff in the box below - - including the original owner's business cards:

AGbox.jpg

Note that the white rubber horn connectors and chip brush are clearly related to the Graphophone. The rest of the stuff? I don't even know what some of it is...! For me to assume that the contents of this box was original equipment for the AG would be a mistake.

I presume that the chip brush originally came with the Graphophone, but I don't know that for sure. It's stamped with a "1" on the handle (one inch wide), and marked "John Whiting & Son, Boston, USA."

AGchipbrush.jpg

To recap, there's no documentary evidence that screwdrivers were included with the regular Edison Home equipment, but only in the "Outfits" described in catalogs. Of course, adding a period piece (particularly an inexpensive model that would have been an appropriate accessory) gives the talking machine additional interest.

Okay...the horse is truly dead... Sorry - -

Good luck...

George P.

George,
I own all the books you and Tim published ,i bought them from you directly in chronological order as they came out. I'm sure after writing those books your mind thinks in a way that makes you want to be sure the facts are straight! I under stand and respect that. I will in the future try to word my ads a little differently in that regard. Thank you for your books and your replies to this thread!
Eric

[john9ten]

Hi Eric

I have an original chip brush. I'll find it for you.

John

[ehs004]

Hi Eric

I have an original chip brush. I'll find it for you.

John

John,
I found the srewdrivers , call or send me a e mail when you find it.
Thanks Eric

[phonogfp]

George,
I own all the books you and Tim published ,i bought them from you directly in chronological order as they came out. I'm sure after writing those books your mind thinks in a way that makes you want to be sure the facts are straight! I under stand and respect that. I will in the future try to word my ads a little differently in that regard. Thank you for your books and your replies to this thread!
Eric

Eric,

You're very kind in your handling of my Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder!

The articles I write for The Antique Phonograph are more detailed than the books, and Editor Rene would tell you that even after I submit an article (meaning I've gone through multiple drafts at home), he knows he will hear from me before the issue goes to press. Sometimes I make 3 or 4 changes before press time...! I don't think I've submitted an article yet that I didn't change after submission...and that's 46 articles just to Rene over the years... In my own defense, I must point out that articles look different after the layout, and certain things jump out at you.

It all boils down to my fear of setting inaccuracies into hard copy. Once that's been done, they're impossible to kill.

George P.

[ehs004]

George,
I own all the books you and Tim published ,i bought them from you directly in chronological order as they came out. I'm sure after writing those books your mind thinks in a way that makes you want to be sure the facts are straight! I under stand and respect that. I will in the future try to word my ads a little differently in that regard. Thank you for your books and your replies to this thread!
Eric

Eric,

You're very kind in your handling of my Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder!

The articles I write for The Antique Phonograph are more detailed than the books, and Editor Rene would tell you that even after I submit an article (meaning I've gone through multiple drafts at home), he knows he will hear from me before the issue goes to press. Sometimes I make 3 or 4 changes before press time...! I don't think I've submitted an article yet that I didn't change after submission...and that's 46 articles just to Rene over the years... In my own defense, I must point out that articles look different after the layout, and certain things jump out at you.

It all boils down to my fear of setting inaccuracies into hard copy. Once that's been done, they're impossible to kill.

George P.

George,
After thinking about it that's what i figured, no offence taken !Thanks for your contributions to the hobby.
Thanks! Eric

[EarlH]

One thing too that often gets forgotten about is how the dealer handled this stuff. Since they were dealing with fixed selling prices in those days, they had to sell service and I'm sure that also involved "give away" items as well. Record dusters are the obvious thing that's usually seen, but they gave away records and other stuff as well to make a sale. The dealers were pretty much doubling their money so there was a little room to give away a few dollars worth of stuff to make the deal more interesting. My Dad's step father used to talk about how they sold pianos, Victrolas & later on radios. His mother owned the Victor dealership here in town and Bill told me they would even give lamps or rugs away with pianos and radios to make a sale. I doubt the phonograph side of the business was much different. She started selling pianos and organs in 1901 and Bill said they would often drive out into the country early on with an organ in back of a wagon and have it "break down" so they could leave it at a farm place for a week or ten days until they could go get it back. More often than not, the family would want to keep it so a payment plan could be worked out. They had a lot of ways to close a deal back in those days. Bill & Dad both said how good that old gal was at selling stuff.

[ehs004]

One thing too that often gets forgotten about is how the dealer handled this stuff. Since they were dealing with fixed selling prices in those days, they had to sell service and I'm sure that also involved "give away" items as well. Record dusters are the obvious thing that's usually seen, but they gave away records and other stuff as well to make a sale. The dealers were pretty much doubling their money so there was a little room to give away a few dollars worth of stuff to make the deal more interesting. My Dad's step father used to talk about how they sold pianos, Victrolas & later on radios. His mother owned the Victor dealership here in town and Bill told me they would even give lamps or rugs away with pianos and radios to make a sale. I doubt the phonograph side of the business was much different. She started selling pianos and organs in 1901 and Bill said they would often drive out into the country early on with an organ in back of a wagon and have it "break down" so they could leave it at a farm place for a week or ten days until they could go get it back. More often than not, the family would want to keep it so a payment plan could be worked out. They had a lot of ways to close a deal back in those days. Bill & Dad both said how good that old gal was at selling stuff.

Earl,
That is a interesting story you have there, unfortunately those kind of stories and memories are being lost due to time. While i was reading the story it evoked a image in my mind. Thanks for posting.
Eric