Edison B-19 Low Serial Number?

[Jwb88]

I’ve had this Edison B-19 for a while now in the junk pile but I only just noticed: the serial number is SM——340. That seems so low. I would have thought serial numbers would start at 501 or so. Is this unusual? What number did Edison start with? Is there a serial number 1 out there?

Anyway, I had some time yesterday so I realized I could Frankenstein most of a DD mechanism for it out of parts I had. I had one spring that was badly bent in the middle, but with some bending it runs great. It would still need a wood lift knob, a turntable, a crank, a lid stay, and a reproducer That’s not unreasonable. The problem is that the cabinet is in awful condition. Not unrestorable, but it’s not at the top of the project pile, that’s for sure.

So anyway, what’s up with the serial numbering?

[phonogfp]

Edison numbering started with #1, unless one model morphed into another - - such as the A 250 becoming the B 250. Your B 19 is the 340th off the line.

George P.

[Jwb88]

I had no idea. How oddly honest, to start with #1 on machines like these (not special orders).

[Valecnik]

Edison numbering started with #1, unless one model morphed into another - - such as the A 250 becoming the B 250. Your B 19 is the 340th off the line.

George P.

340th I think?

[phonogfp]

Edison numbering started with #1, unless one model morphed into another - - such as the A 250 becoming the B 250. Your B 19 is the 340th off the line.

George P.

340th I think?

Bruce, I don't understand.

George

[52089]

I have owned a couple of 3-digit Edisons. My 1A is 267 and I have 1A cabinet 275. The lowest I've seen in person is Charley Hummel's Amberola IV, which I think is serial number 3.

[Jwb88]

Nice. Serial number 3 is awesome, it's almost silly.

[Valecnik]

Edison numbering started with #1, unless one model morphed into another - - such as the A 250 becoming the B 250. Your B 19 is the 340th off the line.

George P.

340th I think?

Bruce, I don't understand.

George

Ugh, I misread your comment George. Thought you'd written 34th. I was attempting to correct you but I was the one mistaken.

[phonogfp]

Ugh, I misread your comment George. Thought you'd written 34th. I was attempting to correct you but I was the one mistaken.

My eyes occasionally do the same thing to me!

See you at Union?

George P.

[Valecnik]

Ugh, I misread your comment George. Thought you'd written 34th. I was attempting to correct you but I was the one mistaken.

My eyes occasionally do the same thing to me!

See you at Union?

George P.

Sure hope to see you at Union unless there are some gravity related issues with the flight across the pond.