Cheney Catalog images

[OrthoSean]

It's interesting about the horn sizes in them. The "Georgian" that I've just picked up has a really big horn in it (I'll measure later when I'm home), much larger than the other machine I have (the Heppelwhite). But even with it's smaller horn, it sounds pretty good. I'm anxious to hear the larger one once it's all done...

Sean

[FellowCollector]

Hey Sean, Nice find! I've never owned a Cheney but have always been intrigued by them - especially that tonearm that's so unique and interesting with that telescoping look. It draws the eye's attention right away. I'm sure you'll get that baby looking and sounding great. Let's hear more about what else you found that day if and when you get a chance!

[OrthoSean]

Hey Doug,

Once I have it all cleaned up, I'll post a new thread with pictures before and after of this machine. The other four machines I got: an Edison C-200 that's actually very early and quite nice, it's been stripped, but with denatured alcohol so the stain hasn't been affected, I'll be trying my hand at shellac soon. It has a really nice pinstriped bedplate in really nice shape and a nice early style reproducer with a good stylus. It's missing the key escutcheon, but I'm sure I can get one from George V. Next is a late Victor Consolette that I only grabbed because it was a super clean machine. I'm cleaning it up first, since it will be the easiest to deal with. Next is what looks like an art model Aeolian-Vocalion machine, it's as big as the Cheney in a very fancy cabinet with carving and various veneers, but it needs lots of cleaning and some cosmetics, all very doable with time and patience. Last one is a Pooley upright that looks very much like a bombe Sonora. It's an immacualte machine with a really nice cabinet and fancy grill. It needs nothing but a gentle cleaning. I'll be picking these last two machines up in a few weeks or so and I'll post pictures of them eventually. All in all, it was a lucky little find for a very reasonable price. I'm happy and these will keep me occupied through the winter and perhaps beyond.

Sean

[estott]

Mine isn't rebuilt and the tone is a bit subdued. I'm certain new gaskets will help but I think Forrest Cheney intended it to be "Mellow". My console sounds a bit palid close up but from across the room it's much better- it's as if the horns have a focal point.

[FellowCollector]

A decent haul Sean! Looking forward to seeing the pics of that Cheney when you get done with your magic on it. The 200 series Edison DD machines always intrigued me. I remember one time years and years ago when I was invited to a loooong time phono collector's home for a visit and he had an A-200 Edison in mahog cabinet. It was a nicely preserved example with superb original bedplate striping and the finish on the hardware and cabinet was really nice too. Unfortunately, they had a puppy that found the two front legs to be irresistable for teething on and those wonderful original and lovely Queen Anne legs were reduced to nothing more than ugly sticks of wood. Shameful and sorrowful sight indeed. Thanks for sharing your find!

[Valecnik]

Here's one for all you Cheney lovers. I guess this would be the "Modern Georgian". It's near my home town too, which unfortunately is ~4,8oo mile from me as the crow flys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

[OrthoSean]

Nice! Wonder what the reserve is? Not close to me, either, by any means and certainly NOT that I have the room for it.

Sean

[goodoz]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum and is interesting to look at the images that were posted in here. I live in Melbourne, Australia and I just purchased a Cheney from a local antique store. Judging by the photos posted here I believe I acquired the Style 20, Sheraton.
Does anyone know how common these ones are? When were these built? Sold?

Any info is greatly appreciated

[gramophoneshane]

Hi Goodoz,
I dont an aweful lot about Cheney machines, but it appears the Sheraton is the smallest of the machines featured in this catalogue, so it was probably also the cheaps, so I'd assume they sold in higher numbers than the more expensive models.
I doubt there's actual production numbers for the various models in existance today, so how many sold & how many remain will probably always be a mystery.
I dont think the catalogue Estott posted had a date(?) on it, but it's safe to assume that if your soundbox has a mica diaphragm, then it was probably made between around 1920 to 1925/26 or so.
Once electrical recordings were introduced in 1925, most companies quickly upgraded their machines with a soundbox containing an aluminium diaphragm, which reproduced the new recordings with a wider frequency range far better.

I'm not sure if you have (or have seen) the original instruction manual for Cheney's, but you'll find it here on the nipperhead site. If you click on each image at the top, it will enlarge each page & you can copy or print them out for future reference.


http://www.nipperhead.com/old/cheney.htm

It might also be worth doing a quick search through the Australian newspaper archives, and looking through various advertising for Cheney phonographs/gramophones/talking machines, and you might get lucky & find either a picture or "Sheraton" model listed, which would date your machine pretty accurately, & possibly even list the original retail price here in Australia.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper

Good luck!

[estott]

Cheney machines never came with mica diaphragms. One of their talking points was their "Gutta Percha" diaphragm, which was a variety of flexible resin. Some machines have been found with celluloid diaphragms but both types were painted gold or silver to match the fittings of the machines. The company didn't last into the Orthophonic era- Forest Cheney died in 1925 and the Marshall Field Co. (which had been bankrolling him) stopped production.

They were made from 1914 to 1925 which is a pretty good run for a secondary make. Although they made some simple machines many surviving examples are from their mid range to high end- they must have been successful in appealing to upper class customers who wanted fine period cabinets,