Is this a Columbia BH?

[cweastlick]

I picked this up today and I think it is a BH. However, all of the pictures I've seen of the BH has a "carrying" handle on the front. This does not, nor does it, have any covered over holes. It all looks original. I think it might be missing an escutcheon. Any ideas? Single spring motor will need some adjusting and oiling, very dirty case but the decal on the opposite of the crank is all there but again hard to see because of the dirt. I'll keep you all posted as I clean it up and make her look pretty again!

[FellowCollector]

Sure looks like a Columbia BH to me. And it sure looks like it has spent lots of years in a barn or attic about as untouched as you like to find them. I've owned two Columbia BH models and neither of mine had the decorative handle and both (I kept one for the collection) were (and are) completely original. Nice find as this is a relatively scarce Columbia disc model.

[alang]

Congratulations! That is a great find, untouched and seems to be complete. Baumbach's Columbia Phonograph Volume II states that "...Not all versions offered the carrying handle...", so your machine is perfectly correct without it. I'm looking forward to pictures of your progress.

Thanks
Andreas

[Phonofreak]

The BH came out in 1906. This is a later Columbia BH. The later ones did not have the carrying handle. Another clue is the decal. Doe it say The Disc Graphophone or The Columbia Disc Graphophone? If it says The Columbia Disc Graphophone, then it is a later one made after 1907. One important detail is the reproducer. It is not a Columbia one, but a Victor Exhibition "fitted" to the tone arm. The Columbia this late should have the spring loaded clamp. This is the Analyzing reproducer. These should be markings under the mica with the last patent date, that says 1906. The Analyzing reproducer turns up from time to time.
Harvey Kravitz

[outune]

The BH was also known as the "Champion". It was relatively short-lived. I have heard it referred to as a "transitional" machine. The case is nearly identical to the 3rd style front-mount AJ-- just bigger. They utilized the same trim and corner columns. Once they used up remaining stock of AJ trim, the BH was discontinued-- or so the 'story' goes. At any rate, there was not a large number of them made. As mentioned, they are found with and without the brass handle--again lending credence to the thought that Columbia was using up stockpiles of excess parts. They are a nice playing machine if the motor is properly adjusted. Congrats on a nice find!


Brad Abell

[outune]

Hi Harvey--- Looking closely at the reproducer, it appears to have the correct "Columbia" writing behind the diaphragm. I think the body is correct-- but may either be the earlier thumb-screw Columbia, or a different needle bar may have been fitted at some point. A close-up picture of the reproducer would answer the question.

Brad Abell

[Lucius1958]

Hi Harvey--- Looking closely at the reproducer, it appears to have the correct "Columbia" writing behind the diaphragm. I think the body is correct-- but may either be the earlier thumb-screw Columbia, or a different needle bar may have been fitted at some point. A close-up picture of the reproducer would answer the question.

Brad Abell

Agreed: that's definitely an Analyzing. The thumb screw looks suspiciously bright, though, compared to the rest of the machine...

Bill

[Phonofreak]

The needle bar on the reproducer is an Exhibition. It was hard to tell from the pictures if this is an Analyzing or an Exhibition. The Analyzing reproducer had the mounting bar across the front. The Exhibition had the mounting bar on the bottom. There is a possibility that an Exhibition needle bar was "fitted" on an Analyzing reproducer. I have seen this many times and had to correct them. I was lucky and got these "married" reproducers very cheap, and restored them. The early Analyzing reproducers with a thumbscrew had the mounting bar in the front just like the later ones.
Harvey Kravitz