Last Surviving Edison Amberola VI Released By The Factory?

[FellowCollector]

According to the book "The Edison Cylinder Phonographs 1877-1929" by George Frow and Dr. Al Sefl the Edison Factory Fire of December 1914 left just 7 complete surviving Edison Amberola VI Phonographs remaining in stock.

There were 204 Amberola VI cabinets on hand or awaiting {delivery} from manufacturers. The remaining Amberola VI cabinets were fitted with "both types of motor" (presumably the new Amberola 50 motor and the Edison Fireside motor found in the Amberola B-VI and Amberola C-VI).

Exactly 3 years ago today (December 8, 2012), I mentioned in a topic here:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=11461

that I owned an Edison Amberola D6 and member Jerry Blais asked at that time if I would post a picture of it.

Well, better {3 years!} late than never , I finally had an opportunity to get my Edison Amberola D6 out and take some pictures.

This is the only Edison Amberola VI model D that I personally have ever seen or know to exist on the planet. If any of you have an Edison Amberola D6 would you please contribute pictures and information of yours as well to this posting? It would be awesome to see and hear about another.

This Amberola D6 is exactly as I found it and interestingly it has the black Diamond C reproducer. Most (including me) would expect it to have the early nickel Diamond C but this is what it had on it and I have every reason to believe that it is completely virgin.

The serial number on mine is "98". Below is the brief story about how this unusual Edison Phonograph came into my hands as described by me back in the above referenced December 2012 thread:

My late Amberola VI stamped as "D 6" is still as I found it in untouched original condition so please forgive the rather 'raw' look to it. I will try to post the pics in the next day or two. For those who enjoy stories here is mine on how I got this one. Back about 22 years ago I had gotten up at about 4:30am and waited in a long line at a field of antique dealers in Brimfield, Massachusetts. It was wickedly cold (this was a September show) and the aroma of coffee was in the air and you could see the breath of people as they talked in line waiting for the opening bell. I rushed in and started going up and down the aisles of dealers and noticed a dealer with several phonographs. Two of them caught my eye. One, an Edison Gem B with nice original black Gem petal horn and one Edison Amberola VI with an original Edison Phonograph dealer tag (from Willimantic, Connecticut) on it. The Gem was marked $425 and the Amberola VI was marked $285. I asked the dealer if he could negotiate if I bought both. "Nope. The field just opened pal...Maybe at the end of day if they haven't sold...you want 'em or what?". I said, "Well, can you please hold this one here (pointing at the Amberola VI) for just 15 minutes while I take a quick run around the field? I just got in here and there might be more that I want.". Dealer: "I suppose so. But after 15 minutes it's up for grabs.". I thanked him and off I went. I found nothing else in the field and returned in exactly 15 minutes. The dealer: "You're lucky you showed up, pal. I coulda sold that one 5 times since you were gone." I paid up and carried it out of the field. And that in itself was a job. It is heavy! The Gem was still there by the way but I decided against it. On my way out of the field I ran into a couple of ladies who, on seeing me carrying out the Amberola, exclaimed "OH DAMMIT! You BOUGHT IT! We wanted that player 'cause we're from Willimantic, CT and we went all the way back out to the car for more money!". I said I was sorry and moved along. I didn't realize how unusual this Amberola VI was until I got it home and looked closely at it. "Hey, this is a model D! And with a "6" instead of "VI"." Anyway, that's the story on it! I'm reasonably confident that my late VI Amberola cabinet survived the December 1914 fire while it was waiting for a motor and works. After the fire, Edison probably said something to the effect of "Hey, put the new Amberola works in those few remaining Amberola VI cabinets and stamp them "D 6" and send 'em out". The dealer in Willimantic got one and now I own it.

Anyway, I hope that some of you enjoy the pictures and the story.

Doug

[Jerry B.]

Thanks for the great photos. I've had many sleepless nights waiting for them over the past three years. (just kidding) That is one unusual Amberola. Thanks, Jerry Blais

[FellowCollector]

I've had many sleepless nights waiting for them over the past three years. (just kidding) That is one unusual Amberola. Thanks, Jerry Blais

[Edisone]

Is the horn any different from the 50 models? If the VI cabinet is any larger, I'd expect the Edison people to make the horn larger, to fit - that seemed to be their penchant.

[phonogfp]

Interesting machine - - thanks for posting it!

I too have a question: I assume it's a single mainspring, but is it?

George P.

[Edisone]

If it was to have the 50 mechanism, it should have 2 springs. No?

[victorIIvictor]

three years from now, we hope to see a close-up of that dealer tag.

[phonogfp]

If it was to have the 50 mechanism, it should have 2 springs. No?

That's the crux of my question: is it a 50 mechanism? The earlier VI versions had single mainsprings.

George P.

[FellowCollector]

Interesting machine - - thanks for posting it!

I too have a question: I assume it's a single mainspring, but is it?

George P.

You're very welcome, George. My Amberola D6 has a 2-spring motor exactly like that of the Amberola 50.

I should have taken a picture of it but it is definitely a 2-spring motor.

three years from now, we hope to see a close-up of that dealer tag.

You can see the dealer tag easily (as well as any other closeup details) by double clicking on the 4th picture and then clicking on the "+" sign which enables the zoom feature. The dealer was A.C. Andrew Music Co. in Willimantic, Connecticut

Is the horn any different from the 50 models?

Good question. I've not yet compared the horn on this Amberola D6 with the Amberola 50's in my collection. Never thought about it. I'll measure them today and get out a reply here.

Thanks for all the comments and questions! Let me know if you have more.

Doug

[FellowCollector]

Below is a closeup of the original dealer tag on my Amberola D6 as requested earlier.

Doug