A very sooty Columbia AH

[jboger]

This was sold near the end of the same auction that I bought the horn at. It was sitting there surrounded by crap. Despite my looking over everything at the auction several times, I missed this until sometime later. While everyone else was occupied in another part of the room, I stealthily opened and peaked inside the case to look at the motor. Later, a woman fumbled with trying to open it; she didn't know how to. Only one bid was placed on it--mine.

This contraption was black with soot, so what you are looking at has already been cleaned up quite a bit. The shellac is gone as are the decals. But wait a minute! When I opened the case I found two good quality decals inside. It looks like someone meant to conserve this machine after all.The motor runs, but the speed control--the part that makes contact with the governor--is broken in two. I have the pieces.

I'm not going to do anything with this for now. If the parts come along at a reasonable cost, then I'll put it back in order.

[Dave D]

Nice find!
Dave

[jboger]

Thanks. Probably my best find for the money. It's coming along. It now looks even better than those photos I posted. I'm in no hurry with this thing. If a traveling arm comes along, maybe I'll buy it or maybe wait it out. Ditto for all the other parts. I think it can be done, though.

[jboger]

Here are some more photos with the current state of cleanliness--or lack thereof. See that small hole on the top? It looks original, and it exposes a screw beneath. Should that hole be there?

[jboger]

A fellow member of this forum had asked me to post pics of the decals that I found inside the case. If I put decals on, I want to use good ones. What are these? One has writing on the back; the other none. Comments very welcome. Just noticed the 1904 date on the small decal. May be the wrong one? If this machine was made only in 1902-3, then that could be wrong, yes? There is not enough of the original decal to make a determination.

Also see the pic of the broken speed control part. I figure I can epoxy it back together. Might not be the most attractive arrangement but should work.

Here I am back editing again. That small decal is the wrong one. It should be round.

[Oceangoer1]

I believe those decals are for cylinder Graphophones. Yours should have the one that says "Disc Graphophone".

-Connor

[phonogfp]

I'm afraid both decals are incorrect for an AH. You want a small banner that states "Disc Graphophone" and a small round one that alludes to a Grand Prize at Paris, 1900. Gregg Cline has both these decals, and better quality than those shown.

George P.

[jboger]

Yep, both wrong. By the way, that crank in the photo did not come with the machine. I did get a small early slotted crank at the auction, it came with a thoroughly dilapidated AZ, but for the life of me now can't find it. Creeping senility.

[jboger]

I wasn't going to work on this because, with major pieces not present, what's the point of putting an effort into it? Still feel that way but couldn't resist removing more soot and fixing the speed control / brake lever that was broken (see above). The pieces of that have now been put back together and the epoxy is now curing on top of the mantel. The case frame unscrews from the base, which I've done. This allows me to re-seat two small areas where the oak veneer has come loose. Hide glue has been applied, clamps have been applied, and patience has been applied. I intend to let these things sit for two days before de-clamping.

I have not de-sooted two panels of the case, the two panels that held the decals. Faint traces of these decals are still present. Just don't have the heart just yet to removes their last vestigases. No hurry as I don't intend to apply any new decals or shellac until the machine has been completely reassembled--if that ever happens.

Decals. I have the 2007 edition of Reiss's book. In the glossary is a paragraph on decals. He writes, as has been written many times on the Forum, that today's water transfer decals are far, far better than replacement decals of the past. But Reiss also states that the original decays were printed on tissue, coated with shellac, and then transferred to the case. He writes, further, that some of these have been reproduced in recent years. Now that interests me, because if that was the original technique, purest that I am, then I'd like to do the same. Any thoughts?

I posted two photos, one of the motor, and one of the case where the brake/speed control sticks out. Should the latter have a metal ring around it just as the crank hole does? I also found a serial number stamped on the motor base plate: 50470. Surely someone could help an enfeebled old man, sans teeth, sans sense, sans just about everything ,with what that serial number means.

[melvind]

You should really get decals from Greg Cline. They are the best available by far. Here is his website link.

http://phonodecal.com/decals/scripts/main1.php

Dan