An unusual find in my parts! Edison Gem D

[kirtley2012]

Gramophones are fairly uncommon to show up where I am, phonographs very scarcely show up!, so I was very surprised to see this about 20 minutes away from me, it was just advertised at a very reasonable price as an "Edison Gem Phonograph", though it is of course the more desirable Maroon Gem D with its original K reproducer, I got it from the original family, it had been passed down but no one had any idea about it or interest in it really, so I don't imagine it had played in many, many years.
It didn't really run when I picked it up, but after a bit of oiling and adjusting it'll play, I can't tell if the spring has lost much strength, I'll have a good play with it to see if it'll get through a 4 minute cylinder or if I have to replace the spring, only thing it needs immediately is the carriage screw and case handle, then I'll try to get the horn and crane to complete it, those had been lost to time it seems, luckily both styli seem fine on the reproducer!

The plaque is one of the most interesting things about it for me, advertising the original dealer of this machine, which is located 2.5 miles away from the house I bought it from, and still stands as an interior shop selling furniture, I've found a couple photos of the street around 1900-1910, and now, I think that might make it a keeper.

The Street in the early 1900s

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47 Ormonde Street, Jarrow now.

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[Fonotone]

That's a beautiful red Gem. What a great find. Congratulations!

-- Grant

[gsphonos]

Great find! I love Maroon GEM's. And, the location of the original owner, and the shop it was bought from, being so close by, is the MOST interesting part of the story! You just never know what you can still find close to your own home!

Mike Sorter
Riverside, CA

[clevelander]

That's a hell of a find Alex!

[phonogfp]

Ditto and ditto!

Finding stuff locally is great. Unfortunately, it's becoming a rare occurrence for me!

Congratulations!

George P.

[Steve Levi]

Amazing find, amazing story and lastly an amazing original model "D" Gem. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!!! Steve L.

[NEFaurora]

Uh, Yeah... That's a keeper..

and the story is priceless..


)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

[kirtley2012]

Thanks guys!

I thought this machine had lost a lot of spring strength, so I was going to look into getting a replacement spring, however after some adjustment it'll make it through a 4 minute cylinder, here is a video I just quickly recorded of the Gem, next step is to find an appropriate horn

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rnEyAHzsQ[/youtubehd]

[Valecnik]

Thanks guys!

I thought this machine had lost a lot of spring strength, so I was going to look into getting a replacement spring, however after some adjustment it'll make it through a 4 minute cylinder, here is a video I just quickly recorded of the Gem, next step is to find an appropriate horn

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4rnEyAHzsQ[/youtubehd]

Bravo! Yes I think you can get by without a new spring. Beautiful looking Gem and with the dealer tag and history, quite a find. Definitely hold out for the matching maroon horn. It may take awhile but it will be a very impressive combination.

[Orchorsol]

That's a stunner Alex, and such wonderful local provenance, well done!