was there a holder or support for Aberola A, L, of M reprod

[MTPhono]

Can somebody add a picture of the oiler removed from the box? I am not certain I have ever seen one these before.

Thanks - Scott

[victorIIvictor]

coyote wrote, "… this utilitarian box…is the "two-hole-with-side-slot" design like the Amberola III example in George's photos…. I wonder if someone threw a box from a III into my 1A?"

Not that this would be conclusive information (since who knows what swapping may have occurred between manufacture and your ownership), but which reproducer did your Amberola 1A come with, if any? If it came with or was retrofitted by the original owner with a Diamond A reproducer, I presume it also came with the correct box. Presumably the correct box came with the reproducer update, and that's why these boxes were affixed to the cabinet with mere finishing nails rather than more permanent means.

As George wrote earlier in this thread, "The Diamond A didn't appear until late 1912, by which time the 1B had been in production for over a year. Amberola 1As were sometimes retrofitted with Diamond A reproducers by their owners (or probably dealers trying to clear old stock) for optimal playing of Blue Amberols." Such Amberola 1As would require the style of box found in George's Amberola III (that can hold a Diamond A reproducers incident), and likely this type of box also came with the Amberola 1B. Can any Amberola 1B owners confirm?

Unfortunately, I cannot add to the data pool, because my Amberola III did not come to me with any box.

Best wishes, Mark

[coyote]

Hello, Mark. As I recall, this 1A came with a model M when I bought it, but I have no reason to believe the reproducer is original to the machine. It was purchased by someone else from an auction house, and then by me. I was doubting that the Diamond A was original equipment on my machine based solely on the serial number (2851) which matches the straight edge and the data plate does not appear to be tampered with. I thought this serial number would pre-date the introduction of the Diamond A.

If the original owner later bought a Diamond A separately, it seems odd to me that the containing box would be like these, with nails provided or holes for them pre-punched in the box. The location of the nails all match in the examples shown. I hope I'm understanding your theory on this correctly. I suppose anything is possible, since the Diamond Disc reproducers have essentially the same hold-down cradle. I believe that the wood cradle with metal strap is the same in the horn compartment and with a replacement reproducer inside the cardboard box.

Wait a minute!
I just realized that George has a "short stem" M in the first box. Surely a long-stem Model M would not fit in the box with three holes. Perhaps the same box with two holes and the side slot was used for both as it will fit the long-stem M as well as the A. I'm not sure of the progression of the styles of Model M, but I thought both long and short turning rod styles were produced. That is, the long rods are not all scavenged from a Model O. I think we should consult Steve Medved.

[Andersun]

Can somebody add a picture of the oiler removed from the box? I am not certain I have ever seen one these before.

Thanks - Scott

Scott,
Stamped on the main body is "PERFECT" POCKET OILER.

[victorIIvictor]

coyote wrote, "I was doubting that the Diamond A was original equipment on my machine based solely on the serial number (2851) which matches the straight edge and the data plate does not appear to be tampered with. I thought this serial number would pre-date the introduction of the Diamond A."

The serial number of your Amberola 1A may well predate the introduction of the Diamond A reproducer (I don't know), but if the machine had not been sold by the time of the Blue Amberol/ Diamond A launch, the dealer may well have "upgraded" the machine to a Diamond A, as George suggested. Pure speculation, but a possibility.

"If the original owner later bought a Diamond A separately, it seems odd to me that the containing box would be like these, with nails provided or holes for them pre-punched in the box."

I agree that in that case, it does seem odd, even unlikely, that there would be such holes in the box. However, it does seem probable that Edison would use these boxes to ship the most up-to-date reproducers to dealers and owners, but I will await input from those with more knowledge.

"Perhaps the same box with two holes and the side slot was used for both as it will fit the long-stem M as well as the A."

That is a really interesting suggestion! I hope someone can show us the test fit. By the way, I did not know there were short stem and longstem Model M variants.

"I think we should consult Steve Medved."

Steve's next article in The Antique Phonograph, perhaps?

Best wishes, Mark

[Silvertone]

I found that there are several Perfect Pocket Oilers on ebay right now, so it seems that these are not too hard to find. Apparently they were common in the day and used by clock and gun dealers.

Now that we know exactly what goes into one of the holes, we need a good picture of the screwdriver

[Zwebie]

Well, I never really thought about it, so I opened up the back of my A-1, and low and behold it had the box nailed in the left side rear. I tried my "M" reproducer in the box, and it only fits at an angle, and not straight like George's. It is a short stemmed "M" with a pointer. Possibly my machine came with an "L" reproducer, it is serial #1804 with hooved feet and urn grill. Probably got swapped for the "M".

Cheers, Bob S.

[PeterF]

I googled screwdriver+sonic (since this is a screwdriver for sound machines)...so here is one variety of screwdriver which could work.

Sonicly.

[gramophone78]

I find this thread most interesting. Although, I have little to no knowledge on this topic. That said, I was offered a machine years ago that came with a brush that may have fit into one of those holes. Is this possible..??. Hopefully, I just added something worthwhile and relevant.... .

Edison Parts.jpg (50.27 KiB) Viewed 1339 times

[Silvertone]

..so here is one variety of screwdriver which could work.

Thanks Peter. Have you verified that this fits in the WLB? It looks a bit large.