Nice Columbia QB

[Phono-Phan]

I was able to purchase a number of machines yesterday. It was a long drive but worth it. I brought home two Edison Standards with cranes and horns, two Edison Homes with cranes and horns, an Edison Gem with a petaled horn, a Columbia AT, a later Victor I with a petaled horn, and this nice little Columbia QB. I have only seen these in a book. The case is very nice considering its age. It only needs a good cleaning and a belt.

[Jerry B.]

Very interesting and infrequently seen. I wonder what the survival percentage is on that cheap carton. Jerry

[phonogfp]

That's a nice QB and should clean up well. There are not many of these around. The Q sits in the box by gravity, and any careless handling will result in damage.

I bought mine on eBay, and upon being informed that I had won it, I sent packing instructions to the seller. He wasn't happy because he had already packed the QB - - with the machine sitting loose inside the box!

Fortunately, he was persuaded to repack the machine and box separately.

Good luck with yours!

George P.

[TinfoilPhono]

Great find! These are not easy to find, and are rarely seen in even passably good condition. You were lucky.

I had the same experience as George, except that my eBay seller went ahead and shipped it after ignoring my instructions. It had been near-mint. Needless to say, upon arrival there were holes punched through the cardboard from the machine bouncing around freely.

I did get him to refund a sizeable amount of the cost but it still didn't make up for ruining what had been close to perfect. However I spent hours, with a loupe and tweezers, painstakingly interlacing shredded torn edges of cardboard and inserting glue with the tip of a toothpick as I went along. I slowly rebuilt the layers of the cardboard, one at a time. The damage is still there but it's much less noticeable, fortunately.

The inner lining had been 100% intact, now there are some scuffs but I had to leave those.

[ehs004]

Here's one just sold on E Bay by Firebottles $ 436.00 looks pretty good !

[Phono-Phan]

Thanks for the comments. I noticed that George's QB doesn't have a base frame around the machine. There is a recess in the whole base for the machine. Mine is like the other two in the post with a separate frame around the machine. I wonder how long this model was in production. I am planning on cleaning up the nickel plating. I'll post some pictures of how it turns out.

[phonogfp]

The QB was simply a conventional first-series Q with a pasteboard "hand case." (The box was also available separately for $1.00 so any Q could be made into a QB.) The earliest documentation I've seen on the QB is in the July 15, 1901 Columbia catalog. It persisted through 1901 and into 1902, but by late 1902/early 1903 the catalog no longer carried it. This would suggest availability for roughly 18 months.

The framed vs. recessed versions is interesting. I suspect the recessed version put the key too close to the wooden base and the framed version was therefore an improvement. I can take a measurement (bottom of key to wooden base) if either of the owners of a framed version will do the same!

George P.

[Phono-Phan]

George, The distance from the bottom of the key to the base board on mine is only about 5/16". The serial number is 373226. There is also a U stamped on the back edge of the bedplate. Any idea what that indicates? So far it is cleaning up nicely. I need to get a new belt on it and replace the governor springs. Also, one of the governor springs is missing.
Thanks for your input on this Columbia.

[phonogfp]

...And we have a WINNER!

The original rubber feet on this Q are pretty flattened, but even when new there couldn't have been much clearance. I think it's obvious that the framed (and slightly elevated) version was an improvement.

Your Q is cleaning up very nicely!

George P.

[Phono-Phan]

I still wonder what the U stamping indicates. Possibly an inspector marking? or an employee ID marking?
Is your serial number earlier or later George? I would think that your base is more stable and a later improvement from the flimsier framed base.