Unusual Edison Home B

[eighteenbelow]

Greetings. I've been offered this Edison Home B by the grandson of the original owner, and there are a couple of things that have me a bit confused and intrigued. The first is that rod that's attached to the on/off switch on the left. I don't believe I've ever seen one of those -- why is it there? Is that something the dealer would have added, or did the owner do that on their own later?

Second question: This machine comes with a bunch of cylinders, and all of them are 4-minute (mostly black amberol), but I can't see any indication that this machine was adapted to play 2 and 4 minute cylinders. (I don't know what kind of reproducer it has.) Am I missing something?

Finally, my main attraction is the horn, which I think is beautiful and appears to be original. Does anyone have an idea who might have made it?

Thanks!

[52089]

I don't know what the rod is for. I've seen auto-stop system use something like that, but you would need other parts to make that happen.

Your machine has 2/4 gearing. I can't tell if it has the switching lever on the top, but it may be there. I can't tell whether you have a C or H reproducer, but you'll find out when you see it in person. It's probably a H since there's a Blue Amberol on the mandrel.

That is indeed a very nice horn! Is there a suitable crane included?

This would certainly be a fine, basic machine that will give years of service and probably only needs minimal cleanup. Good luck with the purchase!

[FellowCollector]

Hi,
The switch on the far left (on top) is the 2/4 minute selector. You'll need a model H reproducer for 4 minute cylinders and a model C for 2 minute cylinders. Or a model K which has both styli and a switch to select either. The on/off device on yours appears to performs a similar function as the rare Wilkeslyke device on one of my Edison Home model B phonographs seen here in my video:

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

Looks like a LOT of cylinders too. I'd buy this very quickly if the price was fair.

Doug

[phonogfp]

As others have noted above, this Home B has been equipped with an Amberol Attachment. The horizontal rod attached to the on/off lever may be tripped by a device attached to the carrier arm (not shown in your images), or it may simply be a gizmo that allowed the owner to turn the machine on and off without needing to reach around the horn and crane.

The paint on the Tea Tray Company horn is NOT original. It's a nice job of floral decoration, but neither the flowers nor the green background are original.

With all those records, the interesting on/off device, and the 2&4-minute Home itself, it's a nice outfit (and the horn's nice too!). If you wind up buying it, be sure to get the complete family provenance from the grandson (names & addresses).

Good luck!

George P.

[Menophanes]

I have seen other instances where the start/stop lever has a small hole near the top, whose only imaginable purpose would be to allow something to be attached to the lever. Does this perhaps indicate that devices like the one on this machine were once less rare than they are now? George's suggestion about the function of the extra rod seems to make complete sense; if the horn hangs rather low, or if it is supported by a free-standing crane in front, there is certainly scope for an awkward accident when one is reaching for the lever after lifting the carriage.

Oliver Mundy.

[Mormon S]

I have seen other instances where the start/stop lever has a small hole near the top, whose only imaginable purpose would be to allow something to be attached to the lever. Does this perhaps indicate that devices like the one on this machine were once less rare than they are now? George's suggestion about the function of the extra rod seems to make complete sense; if the horn hangs rather low, or if it is supported by a free-standing crane in front, there is certainly scope for an awkward accident when one is reaching for the lever after lifting the carriage.

Oliver Mundy.

I have seen that type of hole being used to attach a chain to the front of the carriage to create an "auto stop" feature. I'm guessing it was some sort of dealer addition because I recall seeing it more than once.

Martin