Inventory of Beethoven and Schubert Edisonic phonographs

[marcapra]

Also, for the record, I should say that I talked to Uncle Vanya on the phone last night, and he said that he has seen other Schubert Edisonics with needle cups. It would be interesting to ask the Edisonic owners on this large thread if any of their Edisonic machines have needle cups? Of course, this doesn't mean that they were factory installed, but could have been dealer installed, especially after Edison offered their own needle-cut adapter and needle-cut records in 1929.

[pughphonos]

Also, for the record, I should say that I talked to Uncle Vanya on the phone last night, and he said that he has seen other Schubert Edisonics with needle cups. It would be interesting to ask the Edisonic owners on this large thread if any of their Edisonic machines have needle cups? Of course, this doesn't mean that they were factory installed, but could have been dealer installed, especially after Edison offered their own needle-cut adapter and needle-cut records in 1929.

Marc, Uncle Vanya knows his stuff and his comment convinces me too that needle cups were added in multiple instances--implying a dealer modification (i.e., it's not just an early owner of Schubert serial no. 3835).

Hopefully those Schubert Edisonic owners who have contributed to this thread will read this message and let us all know if their machines have needle cups. None of the photos provided to this thread thus far appear to show them (though many of the shots are of the cabinet exterior and not of the turntable area). If someone feeling passionately about this, go ahead and PM the contributors, one-by-one.

Ralph

[fran604g]

Ralph and all,

If Marc doesn't have the time to do that, I'll volunteer. I've recently emersed myself into the last years of Diamond Disc Phonograph production, and this would be, for me, a natural extension and great opportunity to learn.

Best,
Fran

[pughphonos]

Ralph and all,

If Marc doesn't have the time to do that, I'll volunteer. I've recently emersed myself into the last years of Diamond Disc Phonograph production, and this would be, for me, a natural extension and great opportunity to learn.

Best,
Fran

It didn't sound like Marc was volunteering for that task. I certainly urge you to ahead with it as you have both the subject expertise (late Edison) and the organizational skills. It will be interesting to see how many machines with that feature can be identified. I can't imagine you'd find more than could be counted on one hand.

[marcapra]

Yeah! Go ahead! And there's no way I could compete with Fran's considerable attention to details and research skills for this! BTW, this is a bit off topic, but I just purchased a rare 1928 Edison C-2 radio phonograph. That's the one that can play both 78s and Diamond Discs! And I just swore off buying more floor models. Shows you just can't get out of this passion! Marc.

[fran604g]

It didn't sound like Marc was volunteering for that task. I certainly urge you to ahead with it as you have both the subject expertise (late Edison) and the organizational skills. It will be interesting to see how many machines with that feature can be identified. I can't imagine you'd find more than could be counted on one hand.

Yeah! Go ahead! And there's no way I could compete with Fran's considerable attention to details and research skills for this! BTW, this is a bit off topic, but I just purchased a rare 1928 Edison C-2 radio phonograph. That's the one that can play both 78s and Diamond Discs! And I just swore off buying more floor models. Shows you just can't get out of this passion! Marc.

Thank you both for your kind sentiments!

I wonder if a survey similar to -- but much shorter than -- the C 250/C 19 database project might be in order? It wouldn't need to be as complex because there doesn't seem to have been as much variation to the Schubert during its production lifetime, but I know next to nothing about the Beethoven.

That being said, I wouldn't want to confuse it with your work here, Ralph -- there's so much information here. I wouldn't want to unnecessarily screw things up with another separate post, either.

What are your thoughts?

Marc, I was recently fortunate to hear Tim Fabrizio's C-2 and I thoroughly enjoyed the session! The sound was impressive, and what a stately instrument it is with the burl Maple inlay around the controls and at the top! He played for us both a lateral, and a Hill and Dale, (electrically recorded) record. I could have listened to it for hours.

Fran

[pughphonos]

I wonder if a survey similar to -- but much shorter than -- the C 250/C 19 database project might be in order? It wouldn't need to be as complex because there doesn't seem to have been as much variation to the Schubert during its production lifetime, but I know next to nothing about the Beethoven.

That being said, I wouldn't want to confuse it with your work here, Ralph -- there's so much information here. I wouldn't want to unnecessarily screw things up with another separate post, either.

What are your thoughts?

Fran

Hi Fran, I don't see any reason why not. Your survey focus is somewhat different than mine. If folks contribute to one and not the other, well, both you and I are fussy enough to periodically review each other's content and copy relevent details to keep our respective threads current. All the people on this forum who don't care about the Edisonics will just have to get even better at ignoring us, I suppose.

[fran604g]

I wonder if a survey similar to -- but much shorter than -- the C 250/C 19 database project might be in order? It wouldn't need to be as complex because there doesn't seem to have been as much variation to the Schubert during its production lifetime, but I know next to nothing about the Beethoven.

That being said, I wouldn't want to confuse it with your work here, Ralph -- there's so much information here. I wouldn't want to unnecessarily screw things up with another separate post, either.

What are your thoughts?

Fran

Hi Fran, I don't see any reason why not. Your survey focus is somewhat different than mine. If folks contribute to one and not the other, well, both you and I are fussy enough to periodically review each other's content and copy relevent details to keep our respective threads current. All the people on this forum who don't care about the Edisonics will just have to get even better at ignoring us, I suppose.

Thank you Ralph, for your vote of confidence, I'll do my best.

I think I'll still go through the plan for me to contact as many of your respondents as I can, too. I'm hoping to encourage participation in my survey, but I don't want to get too much duplication, either.

Fran

[fran604g]

Hi folks,

In anticipation of new respondents to this inventory, I would ask that people please ALSO go to our other survey.

It can be found here: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=24028.

I will contact those whom have already participated in this inventory, via PM, and ask them to submit their additional information there.

Thank you all, and Happy Holidays!

Fran

[pughphonos]

Hi folks,

In anticipation of new respondents to this inventory, I would ask that people please go to our more comprehensive survey.

It can be found here: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=24028.

Fran

I'd add one edit, Fran: "...that people ALSO go to our more comprehensive survey." For this (my) thread is very much alive and offers a place for photos and anecdotes whereby the Edisonics and their ownership histories can be tracked--and I will continue to strongly promote it with my own research/cataloging; supplementing all contributions made.

As to which thread is "more comprehensive," that's in the eye of the beholder, n'est-ce pas?

Vive la difference....

Happy Holidays to all as well --

Ralph