Edison Standard Bedplate in Interesting Cabinet

oldphonographsteve · Post by **oldphonographsteve** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 6:50 am

I haven't ever seen this before! It appears to be an Edison standard phonograph in some sort of home made or after market phonograph case. Does anybody know what it is?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Edison- ... SwDNdVwQ6S

-Steve

YouTube · Post by **JohnM** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 11:41 am

I found a similar machine on Craigslist a couple of months ago in Oregon.

edisonphonoworks · Post by **edisonphonoworks** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:50 am

If you notice, they both feature an E on the grill, they must have been a commercial Item since there is more than one, and they are both different. Perhaps it is something Fred Babson of Chicago made, his company kind of made up machines out of whatever was on hand so some us country folks could have an Edison.

YouTube · Post by **JohnM** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:01 am

Those 'universal' pegs that hold cylinders either over or boxes between pegs are familiar. The mahogany example has a 'Standard' Model D mech, while the oak example has an earlier mech with a speed control and end gate.

martinola · Post by **martinola** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:03 pm

The two examples look like they are related. Although some aspects of the grilles are different, the "E" seems to be consistent from a design point of view.

They're neat machines. If I was a moneybags with lots of room, I'd probably give the ebay machine a home. I suppose the cases were made up by some dealer as an accessory to make the older Standard look more like an Amberola. Perhaps the "E" grille was an attempt to get the endorsement of TAE, Inc. for a larger production run. Both examples being on the west coast might back that up. I sure would be interested to know more.

I have the nagging feeling that I've seen something similar long before - maybe in a MAPS article? Both examples are interesting and I'd love to know the details of each (at least the Standard data part). John, if you're ever bored and have nothing better to do, I'd like to pick your brain about your machine for the Standard Data Project.

Regards,
Martin

YouTube · Post by **JohnM** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 7:54 pm

Hi, Martin!
I will be happy to do that as soon as I retrieve this thing! It may be a while. There is an extension rod on the winding shaft.

Best,
John

martinola · Post by **martinola** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:10 pm

Thanks for the photos, John! That already tells me a lot. Cool machine.

Martin

YouTube · Post by **JohnM** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:45 pm

What can you tell me about the mech from the s/n?

YouTube · Post by **JohnM** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:00 pm

oldphonographsteve wrote:I haven't ever seen this before! It appears to be an Edison standard phonograph in some sort of home made or after market phonograph case. Does anybody know what it is?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Edison- ... SwDNdVwQ6S

-Steve

I saved the most important photos from the listing so that they don't vanish into the ether since the listing is closed.

Jerry B. · Post by **Jerry B.** » Fri Jan 22, 2016 2:01 pm

I picked up John's machine yesterday and found it very interesting. The cabinet is well designed and constructed and very close to the standards of the no name uprights which flooded the market in the late teens. There is no doubt that it was built when cylinder machines were a viable option. My best guess is a large Edison dealer offered, through a local cabinet shop, the option of converting a horn type cylinder machine into something resembling an Amberola. The metal horn and connecting parts to the reproducer look professionally built and work fine. Another quality feature are the drawers. The pegs will accommodate a record over the peg or boxes between the pegs. The mechanism is a Model D Standard with serial number 777983. If this machine were mine, I would replace the stiff mandrel bearing, make a belt, and build a drawer for the missing one. The finish on the top of the lid is poor but the overall finish speaks clearly of its age. If it were an ordinary mahogany Amberola 75, I would refinish the cabinet but this machine is far from ordinary.

Jerry Blais