“Q” Graphophone Questionnaire

[phonogfp]

I notice only one "Q" listed with the Type 11 banner decal. Would this decal be considered a very late version?

I don't know the answer to that. The QA with it certainly isn't the highest serial number recorded thusfar.

Maybe George P. can help with an answer?

Best,
Fran

The Type 11 decal is the last/latest version known on a Q. If the serial number doesn't support that, it's possible that the lid and machine were not originally sold together. I've seen a number of Eagles with the same peculiarity. Collectors have mixed-n-matched over the years, probably never thinking that anyone would care!

George P.

[fran604g]

I notice only one "Q" listed with the Type 11 banner decal. Would this decal be considered a very late version?

I don't know the answer to that. The QA with it certainly isn't the highest serial number recorded thusfar.

Maybe George P. can help with an answer?

Best,
Fran

The Type 11 decal is the last/latest version known on a Q. If the serial number doesn't support that, it's possible that the lid and machine were not originally sold together. I've seen a number of Eagles with the same peculiarity. Collectors have mixed-n-matched over the years, probably never thinking that anyone would care!

George P.

That thought crossed my mind, and makes complete sense George, thanks!

Cheers,
Fran

[fran604g]

I'll add that so far, mine is the only cased Q(A) I've recorded with the last version of the company decal. I hope at some point others might surface to help put a perspective on the issue. I imagine that the American Graphophone Co. (jobbers; dealers) likely would've outfitted old inventory to sell alongside the newer offerings just as other manufacturers did historically. Either way, it seems my QA is a peculiarity. Unfortunately, the truth may well be lost to history. Hence this study, and considering that over than an estimated 250,000 Qs* were sold, the sampling I've recorded (only 52!) is really quite infinitesimal.

C'mon people, please add your Q(s) to this study.

Best regards,
Fran

* George F. Paul - "The Humble Q", The Antique Phonograph, September 2014, pp. 33-38

[Jerry B.]

Q #1:

1- Plain stamped
2- 347123
3- Stanchion
4- March 30, 1897
5- NA (missing)
6- No flange
7- With channel
8- NA
9- NA
10- NA

Q #2

1- Plain stamped
2- 364425
3- Stanchion
4- March 30, 1897
5- 8 cities
6- With flange
7- With channel
8- Cardboard case - QB
9- NA - "The Graphophone" on front of the cardboard case
10- NA

Q #3

1- Painted cast base
2- 988860
3- Bracket
4- August 20th, 1901
5- 8 cities
6- No flange
7- With channel
8- Yes, decal #10 in front
9- 1904 St Louis Exposition
10- no label (but scrape marks on inside front where one might have been???)

11- Edison had green cabinets with the A series, but some of these Qs are GREEN!

Q #4 Busy Bee

1- Painted cast base
2- poorly stamped on top edge by speed control - 865146 (WAG = wild ass guess)
3- Bracket
4- August 20th, 1901
5- no tag
6- Flat
7- Channel
8- NA
9-NA
10- NA

[fran604g]

Q #1:

1- Plain stamped
2- 347123
3- Stanchion
4- March 30, 1897
5- NA (missing)
6- No flange
7- With channel
8- NA
9- NA
10- NA

Q #2

1- Plain stamped
2- 364425
3- Stanchion
4- March 30, 1897
5- 8 cities
6- With flange
7- With channel
8- Cardboard case - QB
9- NA - "The Graphophone" on front of the cardboard case
10- NA

Q #3

1- Painted cast base
2- 988860
3- Bracket
4- August 20th, 1901
5- 8 cities
6- No flange
7- With channel
8- Yes, decal #10 in front
9- 1904 St Louis Exposition
10- no label (but scrape marks on inside front where one might have been???)

11- Edison had green cabinets with the A series, but some of these Qs are GREEN!

Q #4 Busy Bee

1- Painted cast base
2- poorly stamped on top edge by speed control - 865146 (WAG = wild ass guess)
3- Bracket
4- August 20th, 1901
5- no tag
6- Flat
7- Channel
8- NA
9-NA
10- NA

Thank you very much, Jerry. I'm grateful for your contributions to the forum. You're a pillar of the community.

Stay healthy,
Fran

[JerryVan]

Two more Q's

Number #1,

1) What is your Q’s base type?
Plain stamped.

2) What is your Q’s serial number?
631156

3) What type of governor support is used at its end (opposite the motor)?
Stanchion.

4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion?
March 30, 1897

5) If your Q has a mandrel tag, how many cities are listed on it? (8 is typical)
9 (including NY)

6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside?
Yes

7(b)) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel?
Flat

8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid?
N/A

9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it?
NA

10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked?
NA

Number 2,

1) What is your Q’s base type?
Painted

2) What is your Q’s serial number?
1064763

3) What type of governor support is used at its end (opposite the motor)?
Bracket.

4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion?
August 20, 1901

5) If your Q has a mandrel tag, how many cities are listed on it? (8 is typical)
No Mandrel tag

6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside?
No

7(a)) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel?
Channel.

8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid?
N/A

9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it?
NA

10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked?
NA

11) Mounted on a wooden base with usual style molding, but no threaded fittings to attach a lid.



I'd also like to know the versions of striping details for the various painted bases, as well as any decals. Some have a simple double stripe running around the base and the flower decal in the center, while others have a double stripe that makes a "detour" of the end bracket and motor plates and also has "blades of grass" flourishes. This style also seems to include the flower decal and the rectangular Graphophone decal, (or Busy Bee decal).

[fran604g]

I'd also like to know the versions of striping details for the various painted bases, as well as any decals. Some have a simple double stripe running around the base and the flower decal in the center, while others have a double stripe that makes a "detour" of the end bracket and motor plates and also has "blades of grass" flourishes. This style also seems to include the flower decal and the rectangular Graphophone decal, (or Busy Bee decal).

Thank you Jerry for your contribution, I'd like to know this as well.

However, without photos from the contributors, I can only rely on the few I've archived on my PC for reference. I'll need to search out and archive more images.

There appears to be a mixture of "double stripe" detailed bases with or without the "tufts". That being said, the images I have saved on my PC of the nicest presumably original Qs, all have the double line pinstriping, corner tufts, "flower" decal, and rectangular identification decal. This suggests that the bases without the tufts may have been reworked but, I also notice from the only saved image I have of a "Language Phone" its base has double line pinstriping and flower decal, without tufts or rectangular identification decal.

Best,
Fran

[Bruce]

Here is a couple more for your project

Bruce

Graphophone Q
1) What is your Q’s base type? 1a
2) What is your Q’s serial number? 614164
3) What type of governor support is used at its end (opposite the motor)? Stanchion
4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion? March 30 1897
5) If your Q has a mandrel tag, how many cities are listed on it? 8 + New York
6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside? Yes
7) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel? Flat
8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid? Type 6
9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it? N/A
10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked? N/A

Busy Bee
1) What is your Q’s base type? 1b
2) What is your Q’s serial number? 957870
3) What type of governor support is used at its end (opposite the motor)? Bracket
4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion? Aug 20, 1901
5) If your Q has a mandrel tag, how many cities are listed on it? nil
6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside? Yes
7) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel? Channel
8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid? nil
9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it? N/A
10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked? N/A

[fran604g]

Here is a couple more for your project

Bruce

Graphophone Q
1) What is your Q’s base type? 1a
2) What is your Q’s serial number? 614164
3) What type of governor support is used at its end (opposite the motor)? Stanchion
4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion? March 30 1897
5) If your Q has a mandrel tag, how many cities are listed on it? 8 + New York
6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside? Yes
7) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel? Flat
8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid? Type 6
9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it? N/A
10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked? N/A

Busy Bee
1) What is your Q’s base type? 1b
2) What is your Q’s serial number? 957870
3) What type of governor support is used at its end (opposite the motor)? Bracket
4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion? Aug 20, 1901
5) If your Q has a mandrel tag, how many cities are listed on it? nil
6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside? Yes
7) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel? Channel
8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid? nil
9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it? N/A
10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked? N/A

Thank you Bruce, I appreciate your participation.

Cheers,
Fran

[JerryVan]

Another Q for the list. Just delivered today.



1) What is your Q’s base type? Painted

2) What is your Q’s serial number? 1001086

3) What type of governor support? Bracket.

4) What is the last date stamped on the end stanchion? August 20, 1901

5) If your Q has a mandrel tag..., No Mandrel tag

6) Does your mandrel have a flange for the belt to ride inside? No

7(a)) Does your drive pulley have a flat end, or one with a channel? Channel.

8) IF CASED, which type banner decal is on the front of the lid? UPDATED, Decal has been removed.

9) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a decal on the back, what is the last date on it? UPDATED, Decal has been removed.

10) IF CASED, and your Q’s lid has a paper label INSIDE, what is it marked? QA, $10.00

11) UPDATED: As mentioned, an original lid, with seemingly original finish, showing very tiny fragments of removed decals.

Also, the gear behind the drive pulley is bare brass with no sign of it ever being plated. Plating elsewhere is in very good condition, but dirty.