WANTED: Lid for Edison Amberola 1A

[edison17]

Based on this site, I believe I have Edison Amberola 1A, Third Style in Oak. I'm interested in a lid for it. I have the hinge and strut.

http://www.phonographcompany.com/index. ... &detail=10

The dimensions of the top are approximately 19 ⅜" (side to side) and 20 ⅞" (front to back)

thank you.

[phonogfp]

The "third style" nomenclature is a bit confusing, as the Amberola pictured has the 2nd variation Weber-style cabinet fitted with a Pooley grille (all perfectly legitimate). There were two lid designs used with the 1A: the early Weber style with smoothly-curved sides, and the later Pooley style with ridges near the tops of the curved sides.

If your cabinet looks like the one in the photo you linked - with curved bottoms on the sides and front, then you need the Weber style lid (as pictured).

If, however, your cabinet differs from the one in the photo by having flat horizontal areas at the bottoms of the front and sides, and if the carvings on the corner posts are different, you will need the Pooley style lid. I can provide a photo if you need one.

Actually, the Pooley style cabinet 1A is illustrated on the same website as the "Fourth Style." You can see the differences in the lid:

http://www.phonographcompany.com/index. ... &detail=77

Besides the nice photos, I wouldn't put too much stock in the accuracy of what's written on that website. The "Columbia Gramophones" should be the first red flag...!

George P.

[edison17]

Thank you for the clarification George. The cabinet does looks just like the one in this one in the photo with curved bottoms on the sides and front. So that means I'm looking for a Weber style lid?

http://www.phonographcompany.com/index. ... &detail=10

Though unmatched to the model, will other lids e.g., Pooley, fit?

thank you for taking the time.

Regards,John

[Jerry B.]

I thought for sure I could help but my spare lid is mahogany. Jerry B.

[PeterF]

Does any A-250 lid fit this application? I have an oak A-250 parts machine that could be a donor if that works.

[phonogfp]

The outside dimension of the Weber-style playing compartment (and thus the OD dimension of the lid bottom) is 19 ⅜" wide x 21 ¼" deep. I don't have an A-250 here, but I measured a B-250 (which I believe uses an identical size lid as the A-250) and the measurements aren't even close. You need a Weber-style lid.

George P.

[edison17]

Hi Peter, I don't know the answer but two things:

1- The precise measurements of the top are: 19 5/16" side to side and 20 ⅞" front to back, picture here:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/photoops/196GXK

The inside height needs to be above 3.5" to clear the stylus.

2- Knowing nothing about this, googling produced this comment:

Introduced in 1912, the A250 (later B250) was one of the first of Edison's entries into the disc machine market. Most examples were fitted with a double spring motor. The cabinet was based on Edison's Amberola I cylinder machine, but although it shares many design elements, it is not identical and an Amberola I mechanism cannot be swapped into the cabinet. The 250 nomenclature refered to its original price in dollars, a naming practice favored by Edison with many of his models. Available in oak or mahogany, the A250 and B250 enjoyed only a modest success, and was phased out around 1915.

http://www.intertique.com/A250DDiscID.html

- John

[PeterF]

Sounds like it won't probably work. Next time I'm in my storage I'll measure it just in case, and let you know.

[phonogfp]

John,

Well, there's good news and bad news...

The good news is that your cabinet is mahogany. A mahogany lid will be much easier to find than an oak one.

The bad news is that the dimensions of some Weber-style cabinets may differ (as seen in my dimensions above). Your cabinet appears to have the louvers that are characteristic of the Saginaw Table and Cabinet Company (the longest louver is approx. 9" in length). The 1A I measured earlier today is a product of the Herzog Art Furniture Company. In spite of having been owned by the same people, the cabinets differ slightly in their dimensions. Clearly, you will need to ascertain the lid measurements before purchasing it.

The reproducer on your Amberola is a Diamond A, which is suitable for playing ONLY 4-minute celluloid cylinders. Fortunately, these are in abundant supply and are generally excellent records in several respects.

George P.

[Jerry B.]

Terrific! I'll get my grandson to bring my spare lid from the attic and maybe we can move forward on this project. Jerry Blais