C250/C19 Database project

[fran604g]

Hiya folks,

I've concluded my 4-part series of articles, titled The Edison Chippendale C 250 and its Successor: The C 19 - A Centennial Appreciation.

The series was featured in 4 quarterly issues from December 2015 through September 2016 in the Antique Phonograph Society's Journal - The Antique Phonograph.

As an APS member, the series can be accessed through membership, and for the general public, my user friendly spreadsheet -- providing my production dates estimates, other useful information, and a code key -- can be found using this link: http://www.antiquephono.org/edison-c250 ... 1915-1925/

I thank all of those members whom have participated in my research, and encourage those who haven't yet become a member of the Antique Phonograph Society, to do so today!

Best,
Fran

[martinola]

Just got my copy yesterday. Fran, that was an excellent series of articles and some great research. Good on you for tackling this subject!

Best Regards,
Martin

[fran604g]

Just got my copy yesterday. Fran, that was an excellent series of articles and some great research. Good on you for tackling this subject!

Best Regards,
Martin

Thank you, Martin, it was both fun and very difficult for me at the same time. I hope people find it useful, and it stands the test of time.

Best,
Fran

[phonogfp]

I'd like to offer my congratulations to Fran as well. To complete such an in-depth piece of research on a common machine that we all THOUGHT we knew about, and present it in permanent form is a real accomplishment. And this thread is a record of the assistance given by the collecting community, so everyone involved can take some measure of pride in this project.

Now anyone who owns a C 250 or a C 19 can access Fran's dating chart on the APS web site and determine quite accurately when their example was built. Unfortunately, that data wasn't available anywhere else, so Fran painstakingly put together lots of little pieces of information and clues and carefully studied it all. The jigsaw puzzle finally came together after God-knows-how-many hours of work.

Thank you, Fran!

George P.

[Lucius1958]

That was an excellent article!

Bill

[marcapra]

I wish to add my thanks for Fran's research of a model we all own. In fact, I prefer articles on the more common machines, especially if I own an example! Marc.

[fran604g]

Thank you all for your kind words! I'll continue to add Chippendales to the spreadsheet periodically, to keep it as up to date as possible.

There are still several other questions I have in my mind that I couldn't expand upon, but as time passes I hope I can eventually answer all of them.

Best,
Fran

[fran604g]

Hi folks,

I will continue to update my spreadsheet to reflect new entries, so I am posting this updated version of the questionnaire for newer members, or veterans that may not have participated in the project.

For further accuracy, I've found it necessary to develop additional sub-categories for many of the original categories over the course of my study, and they are reflected in this UPDATED post.

Your participation and comments are truly appreciated.

Thank you all,
Fran


The following are particular features that I am observing, please number your responses accordingly.

1. What is the Model Designation? "C 250" or "C 19"

2. What is the Serial Number? "SM-??????"

3. Which finish does the motor plate have?:

3A) "Maroon" with gold pin striping (as the B 250 had).
3B) "Black with Maroon decals" (the maroon decals are applied near the speed control knob, and at the lower left hand corner of the motor plate".
3C) "Black ONLY with pin striping present".
3D) "Black with NO pin striping".

4(A) Are there drip pans present under the governor, innermost spring barrel (found only on the earliest C 250's) AND: are they finished in "Maroon", or "Black”?

4(B) Does the top of the motor plate have a continuous flat surface, or is there a large concentric circular depression (located beneath the turntable) present? Please state "Flat" or "Circular".

4(C) Does the governor (located beneath the turntable) have "2 springs" or "3 springs"?

4(D) Which finish is on the reproducer, horn throat, and other hardware on the motor plate? “Gold plated”, or “Gun-metal” (AKA "antique bronze")?

5. Which "Official Laboratory Medallion" is present?

5A) "P-1" = Pentagonal flange with circular boss stating: “The $250 Diamond Disc Phonograph is the Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”
5B) "P-2" = Pentagonal flange with circular boss stating: “The C250 Diamond Disc Phonograph is the Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”
5C) "R-1" = Round emblem stating: “The Model 250 Diamond Disc Phonograph is the Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”
5D) "R-2" = Round emblem stating: “Diamond Disc Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”

6. Which form of record storage is present:

6A) 2 Drawers divided into 5-compartments.
6B) 2 Drawers divided by individual record "slots", each numbered 1-38.
6C) 2 Shelves divided by individual record "slots"; AND: Are the corresponding numbered strips for the shelves: 1-36 on both strips OR are they numbered 1-36 on the top strip and 37-72 on the bottom strip?

7. Cabinet Wood Type: "Mahogany" or "Oak"

8. Is an "Electric Automatic Stop" (AKA Duncan Stop) present on the motor plate? Yes/No

9. Please list any dealer tags or decals present anywhere on the cabinet: Name/Address, location on machine, etc.

10. Are there any original dated sales receipts/shipping documentation, etc. with the machine? (Dates are particularly noteworthy)

11. Is there Grille cloth present? AND: What is the Color?

12. Is the record storage door held open by a rod at the top, center, or the bottom of the cabinet door?

[Lucius1958]

To update my entry:

3. C

4(A). Yes: black

4(D): Gold plated

6. A

[fran604g]

To update my entry:

3. C

4(A). Yes: black

4(D): Gold plated

6. A

Thank you, sir! I'll enter into my spreadsheet, your additions.

Best,
Fran