Edison Factory Data Plate Error?

[MikeB]

I just got this very interesting Edison Home Model B. It got upgraded to 2/4 gearing at some point, and a cygnet bracket was added. It also has a very cool dealer tag from Nishkian's Cyclery in Fresno, Cal. I see that Nishkian's was in the Victor sales network and they apparently sold Edison phonographs as well, (and bicycles!) There is a photo of the shop in the Facebook Fresno Historical Society page:
https://m.facebook.com/fresnohistory/ph ... ale2=it_IT

What is strange about this machine, though, is the data plate. This Home has a Gem data plate, serial number 285171. I see absolutely no indication that the data plate was changed - it looks totally original to the machine, and the bedplate looks untouched. Also, I also can think of no reason why someone would intentionally put a Gem data plate on a Home. So I wondering if there was a possibility that this Gem data plate was accidentally applied to a Home bedplate at the factory. I am assuming that this data plate might have been manufactured at roughly the same time as the machine. Has anyone seen anything like this, or is it more likely that the machine was altered at some point after manufacture?

[phonogfp]

Interesting!

The serial number makes sense for this Home to have left the factory in September 1907. However, if this plate had been removed from a Gem, it would have left the factory in late 1908 - making it a Model C. I've never seen a Model C Gem that lacked the "C" suffix on the serial number. This looks like a legitimate factory error to me.

The definitive way to tell would be to remove the upper casting and check the brads underneath for signs of tampering. I'd be surprised if there are any such signs.

George P.

[Curt A]

It would be very hard to remove a data plate without damaging it and not easy to re-install one and have it look right, so I think George nailed it...
Plus there wouldn't be any logical reason to replace the original with a Gem plate.

[MikeB]

Interesting!

The serial number makes sense for this Home to have left the factory in September 1907. However, if this plate had been removed from a Gem, it would have left the factory in late 1908 - making it a Model C. I've never seen a Model C Gem that lacked the "C" suffix on the serial number. This looks like a legitimate factory error to me.

The definitive way to tell would be to remove the upper casting and check the brads underneath for signs of tampering. I'd be surprised if there are any such signs.

George P.

Thanks, George. So if I understand correctly, the serial number on this data plate is probably the correct serial number for this machine. But a blank Gem data plate was accidentally stamped with this correct number, then applied to this Home bedplate. Interesting indeed. I'll remove the upper casting when I start work on the machine and have a look underneath.

[phonogfp]

You're welcome, Mike. That's my take. I seem to recall seeing another Edison machine with the "wrong" data plate attached, but the details aren't coming to me. A switch between a Standard and a Home seems vaguely familiar...

George P.

[startgroove]

I'm not sure about this model of Home, but on a few where I have removed the data plate in order to repaint the bedplate, I found a number under the data plate that was embossed into the cast iron, which matched the serial number on the data plate. Yet, I would not recommend removing your plate in order to confirm that due to the possibility of damage to the data plate.

[martinola]

I'm quite sure George is correct on this machine. This Home is certainly one I'd hang on to. The error is cool, the finish (while obviously aged) is quite good, and the dealer tag really is the icing on the cake. The other Home tag error that cropped up here was SonnyPhono's machine # 297784. It had a Standard tag (type 6 with a last patent date of Oct. 3, 1905). Perhaps these machines were assembled the Monday morning after payday.

Martin

[MikeB]

I'm quite sure George is correct on this machine. This Home is certainly one I'd hang on to. The error is cool, the finish (while obviously aged) is quite good, and the dealer tag really is the icing on the cake. The other Home tag error that cropped up here was SonnyPhono's machine # 297784. It had a Standard tag (type 6 with a last patent date of Oct. 3, 1905). Perhaps these machines were assembled the Monday morning after payday.

Martin

I think that this is probably the thread that mentions that other error machine:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3134&p=14465&hilit=home#p14465

Yes, it's a keeper. The 2/4 plus the cygnet bracket is definitely a big plus for me. I plan on putting a cygnet horn on it. But the reproducer that came on it is unusable in its current state, and someone wiped the cabinet with a stain at some point, but still a very interesting machine for several reasons. Will post an "after" photo here.