FOLLOW THE RESTORATION: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a...

MicaMonster · Post by **MicaMonster** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 11:56 pm

...YOU TELL ME!!!!!!!! Above all else, I am a hopeless tinkerer and follower of the methods of empirical experimentation. Edison is my hero, but if you want to truly take my breath away bring me something that is hand made in 19th/20th century America by someone who had a singular vision of what they wanted to accomplish. This machine is 100% hand made, right down to the last screw and staple. It really does embody a machine that HAS IT ALL. Mystery, Intrigue, Technology, and QUESTIONS. Oh, the QUESTIONS. Enough to make my mind depart my body and experience something weird, squishy, and oddly warm. So, onward we go!

OBSERVE, WEARY TRAVELER! The tour starts on the upper right.

Mystery: Yes, it looks like...an Edison Standard Model A, but it is actually entirely fabricated out of cast iron!

Intrigue: Why make such a detailed copy of a Model A (right down to the gear cover!).

Technology: This mechanism style was most likely chosen by the machinist because it was (back then) a known reliable arrangement, that was easy to duplicate. The bedplate of the casting is about ¼" THICK cast iron!!! The quality of the cut gears is very good, and the mandrel is made out of heavy gauge brass. By my reckoning, this is the "newest" technology on the machine, which brings me to believe that This was made between 1901 and 1903.

Mystery: OOOH! That spinning Class-M style governor and binding posts for electric hookup!

Intrigue: Now, wait a minute.....that technology is from, like, the 1880's?

Technology: The binding posts, both hand made, don't even match in due proportion or style. There is no grounding brush on the governor, and additionally, the governor is very different from one found on a Class M. The governor yoke is very narrow, not having a substancial contact disc on it, and the speed control brush is non existant. It has a brass fork (which I will show you later....it fell off from a bad solder joint) which acts like a brush. Now, whoever made this didn't have a technical understanding of a Gramme-Ring electric motor. The original wires for the field coil and armature brushes are wired in PARALLEL. Not like a run of the mill Class M which operated with a shunt resistor....giving the motor an elegant little kick of electric when it slowed down too much to keep its speed consistent. In the case of this machine, it was originally wired to utilize the governor arrangement as a true speed regulator, much like that on a hit and miss engine. When the governor speeds up, it opens the circuit until it slows down enough to close the circuit. My pet name for it: Olde Sparky!!!! Yes, I could wire in a shunt resistor, but It would be modifying the original builder's plan, which WILL actually work, and I am hoping it will work quite well!

Mystery: Oh man. That motor. Makes me think of an....Edison electric fan! The armature is exceedingly well made, all coils are tight, all wiring connections to the commutator are clean and well layed out. The motor brush arms are insulated from the field coil casting by multiple sheets of mica, crushed into place and secured by a machine screw. The motor straps seems to be bent pieces of iron, purposely bent to all of the motor to sit parallel to the mechanism.

Intrigue: Hey, check it out, it is compleatly covered in hand-applied pin striping! The motor is VERY well made, technically, and I did power it up. It's a bit of a voltage hog. 12VDC, drawing 5Amps. The wire used to wind everything is very thick, this might have something to do with its efficiency. I will clean up the electrical connections and see if I can make it more efficient. I have had Edison Class M machines operate at 1.7V, drawing only 1.5Amps, but that is a very rare bird indeed.

Technology: Again, using the phonograph design as a guide, this motor is right in line with that era. Of particular note is that the mechanism is VERY lightweight. Why was Edison's Class M motor so darned heavy? In some respects this machine wins on that front. The drive pulley is on top of the motor, and it drives the phonograph mandrel pulley via a double-roller arrangement which I am going to repair before installing it on the machine.

This phonograph came with a jar of weird and loose parts. Many I haven't figured out what their original purpose was.

And the last point I must make light of: The mechanism pulls out of its base cabinet, and stands on four turned legs. How flippin' cool is THAT! Perfect for showing off the machine while demonstrating it. Between the spinning motor, the governor action, and the whipping belt that goes UNDER the bedplate, this will be a feast for the eyes when it's running!

The paint on this is VERY weak, so I have decided to not apply any cleaning solvent to it. I will dust it off, and give it a quick wipe with polishing solution.

This marvel is not mine, but part of a privately held collection. I am honored to get it running again. And I think "Olde Sparky" will have plenty to say in the next couple of weeks!

Stay tuned for more!

TinfoilPhono · Post by **TinfoilPhono** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 12:29 am

What a fascinating hybrid homage to 2 eras of Edison machines! I am very interested in following this restoration, to say the least.

Post by **gramophone-georg** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 1:49 am

Wow, I'll bet that's lightweight!!

Curt A · Post by **Curt A** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 6:47 am

Any history on where or when it was found? It kinda looks like it was in an old attic for the last 100 years...

phonogfp · Post by **phonogfp** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 9:53 am

That's some machine! There are dozens of surviving one-off phonographs made within 5 or so years of the turn-of-the 20th century. It's fascinating that someone would put in so much work to make something that surely could have been purchased (in approximate form) from Edison or Columbia for a far more reasonable price. But what interesting artifacts they are!

Good luck with the restoration!

George P.

NEFaurora · Post by **NEFaurora** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:20 am

Wow, That one was cobbled together a very, very long time a ago!!!

I've seen some weird "Kitbashed" Edisons...but this one sure is a strange one! Half Class M, Half Standard A!!

This is a VERY Intriguing machine seeing as how the Standard "A" bedplate part has NO Provisions for a Speed Control, or for an ON/OFF Switch!! What gives?!?!? WEIRD!!!!!!

I can't wait to see it all cleaned up!!!

Could this be some weird Edison Factory Prototype?!??!???....and not someone's Early 1900's Edison "Kitbashing" Project???

Strange!!!

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

De Soto Frank · Post by **De Soto Frank** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 10:54 am

I'm going to parade my ignorance before all...

What about this machine is NOT Edison-made ? (Beside the general co-existence of the M-type motor and a Standard top-works, all in the same cabinet of unique design. )

My observations:

Arm looks like Standard A, with shaver boss in the back

Bedplate - no hole for speed adjustment thumbscrew

I would believe the amalgamation of the parts is unique, but casting takes a lot of effort, and a foundry, so my neophyte guess would be that the castings were Edison, and then whatever fittings needed to marry the motor and the top-works were created by Mr. Long Since Dead craftsman ?

Could this have been assembled by an Edison labs worker from stuff in the parts bin, or perhaps have had a more "official" purpose ? ( Was an electric "Standard" every bandied about at Orange ? )

Post by **Phono-Phan** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:06 am

Very Cool!!! I really like it on the legs and not in the case. I am sure this thread will go on for a while.
Ken

phonogfp · Post by **phonogfp** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:45 am

De Soto Frank wrote:I'm going to parade my ignorance before all...

What about this machine is NOT Edison-made ? (Beside the general co-existence of the M-type motor and a Standard top-works, all in the same cabinet of unique design. )

In his first paragraph, Wyatt states the following:

This machine is 100% hand made, right down to the last screw and staple.

If we're to take him at his word (which I'm prepared to do), there are no Edison parts on this machine - which accounts for the posted expressions of surprise. A cobbled-together machine is all too common. This doesn't appear to be one of those.

George P.

De Soto Frank · Post by **De Soto Frank** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 11:48 am

No disrespect intended towards Mica Monster.

Just kind of amazed that someone would go to all the trouble to make every last bit themselves.

Especially the castings.

That said, is there a known history to this machine ?

FOLLOW THE RESTORATION: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a...

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