Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

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Phonofreak
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Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Phonofreak »

I have been thumbing through my old Sears catalogs looking at Columbia cylinder Graphophones. Of particular interest are the late B series, ie: BK, BE, BF, etc. In the advertisements, these machines came with a 14" brass horn. In all my years of collecting these machines, I never saw one in the flesh. I have some questions about these horns. Were these horns made out of a lightweight brass? I know a regular brass horn for an Edison, is much to heavy for the Columbia carriage. That's the reason why the aluminum horns were made. If anyone knows and can shed some light, I would appreciate it.
Harvey Kravitz
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Lucius1958
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Lucius1958 »

The Columbia B series machines featured a substantial reproducer carriage, which was able to bear more weight than the earlier floating reproducer mounts (many of which used potmetal, making the aluminum horns necessary).

Bill

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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Phonofreak »

Thanks for the info. What does a Columbia brass horn looks like? I'm interested to see what they look like.
Harvey Kravitz

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Curt A
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Curt A »

A Google search brought up a number of images similar to the following two... I think one might be more accurate than the other (if that is an original horn). :lol:
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billStalnaker275x.jpg
columbia-be-cylinder-phonograph-with-brass-horn_322134124605.jpg
columbia-be-cylinder-phonograph-with-brass-horn_322134124605.jpg (26.88 KiB) Viewed 1511 times
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Phonofreak
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Phonofreak »

I have seen that 14" horn many times, It is a repro. The ones I have seen in the old Sears catalogs have the same shape and profile as the aluminum horns.
Harvey Kravitz

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Curt A
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Curt A »

Harvey, since you have three aluminum Columbia horns, just take one and paint it gold... ;) :lol:
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Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
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Panatropia
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Panatropia »

My BF has a brass horn, but it's nickel plated. Has letters and numbers stamped upon the neck.

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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Phonofreak »

If you are able to send a picture, That will be great.
Harvey Kravitz
Panatropia wrote:My BF has a brass horn, but it's nickel plated. Has letters and numbers stamped upon the neck.

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Panatropia
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Panatropia »

Phonofreak wrote:If you are able to send a picture, That will be great.
Harvey Kravitz
Panatropia wrote:My BF has a brass horn, but it's nickel plated. Has letters and numbers stamped upon the neck.
I'll take some tomorrow morning.

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Panatropia
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Re: Brass Horn For Columbia Cylinder Machines

Post by Panatropia »

Here's the horn that came with my BF. While the bell is brass, the cone is steel. Stamped upon the neck ferrule and barely visible is "standard".
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