![[The Talking Machine Forum - For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings]](/styles/we_universal/theme/images/the_talking_machine_forum.png)
O.C. Lightner was a Chicago millionaire magazine publisher who founded Hobbies magazine and was the first person to promote antique shows in the US. He began collecting Victoriana in the early years of the 20th Century and bought many unique and unusual items back when almost no one else cared much about them. In 1947, he purchased the old Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine and moved his two mansions full of collections from Chicago to Florida. He died in 1948.
The post card showed the display of phonographs in the music room of the Lightner Museum and in the foreground was clearly an Edison 'Idelia'. I contacted the museum and inquired if the 'Idelia' was still in the collection. I received a reply from the collections manager saying that the 'Idelia' was in a glass display case in the music room, and it bore a plaque on the bedplate stating that it was presented to President William Howard Taft by Thomas Edison. I received an invitiation from the collections manager to let her know when we would be be in St. Augustine to arrange for a private tour of the museum.
Today, while here in St. Augustine for the Lion's Seafood Festival, we finally had the opportunity to visit the Lightner. The 'Idelia' is housed in a wood-framed glass case that is too small to display the correct horn which is shown in the 1948 postcard photo, so it is fitted with a 14" black & brass horn. The correct crank is missing and it has been fitted with an incorrect crank, and the oxidized reproducer(s) are missing as well (it has a nickel-plated Model C installed now). I have attached a few photos of this magnificent presentation 'Idelia' -- certainly one of the most wonderful and valuable phonographs in existence, even in it's present state. If anyone has an oxidized reproducer and crank that they would be willing to donate to the Lightner in exchange for a tax deduction, or even to sell them, please contact me, or the Lightner Museum via their website. It would be nice to see this machine displayed in it's full glory. Please excuse the quality of the iPhone photos taken through glass and in museum lighting conditions. I've punched them up in Photoshop a bit so they are a tad noisy. The presentation plate is on the bedplate in front of the knife-edge.
- Idelia01adj.jpg (93.3 KiB) Viewed 4599 times
- Idelia02adj.jpg (96.69 KiB) Viewed 4599 times
- Idelia03adj.jpg (89.56 KiB) Viewed 4599 times
- Idelia04adj.jpg (67.39 KiB) Viewed 4599 times
- Idelia05adj.jpg (89.42 KiB) Viewed 4599 times
- LightnerChickeringadj.jpg (80.29 KiB) Viewed 4599 times
They had something like Napoleon's desk sitting right out in the open along with delicate Marble statues with fine details like fingers, wings, etc. I was shocked. So shocked, that I asked one of the curators if they had problems with small children in the museum doing damage. She surprisingly replied "No". I somehow think that it was a white lie. If you had some crazy tour group come through this museum like some kind of "hip-hop" crowd, They could destroy tons of history in this place in no time flat. The museum needs to definately upgrade their cameras and security... Like a paid security guard would be a good start. Most people there were just kind Little'old ladies..that were in their 60's and 70's that were all very helpful. I suggest checking it out. The Lightner museum and the Flagler Hotel accross the street also house the most Tiffiany cut Glass in one place in the entire world. Both are certainly a real treat.