Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
User avatar
Mormon S
Victor III
Posts: 737
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 6:27 pm
Personal Text:     Martin     "phono_fluff" on instagram

Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Mormon S »

Hey everyone. I have located a rather interesting phonograph, a Columbia eagle phonograph with a sears base. Generally speaking, the sears base was made to put a Columbia Q on top of, but the one I found has a Columbia eagle directly bolted onto the base itself. I believe the base is original, the ones made roughly 30 years ago by Aaron Cramer were made of brass as far as I know. Has anyone seen one with a Columbia eagle before?

I would also like to see pictures of the underside of an original base if possible. Thanks!

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Curt A »

Martin, post some pictures.
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

User avatar
Mormon S
Victor III
Posts: 737
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 6:27 pm
Personal Text:     Martin     "phono_fluff" on instagram

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Mormon S »

Sorry about that, here are a few
Attachments
20210918_163237.jpg
20210918_163216.jpg
20210918_170747.jpg

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Curt A »

Martin, without seeing your base in person, it is hard to tell. What metal does it appear to be made of? I have seen only a couple of originals and a number of replicas. The originals were made of nickel plated cast iron and had deep, defined decorative details. The replicas were copied and cast from originals, so they lost some detail in the copying process, as compared to being cast in the original molds. I can't be 100% certain, but from your pictures, it seems that the details are less defined than on an original. Whatever it is, it is still a desirable accessory, as replicas are very hard to find and originals are impossible and very expensive.
Screen Shot 2021-09-18 at 7.54.34 PM.png
Last edited by Curt A on Sun Sep 19, 2021 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

User avatar
Mormon S
Victor III
Posts: 737
Joined: Mon May 07, 2018 6:27 pm
Personal Text:     Martin     "phono_fluff" on instagram

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Mormon S »

I wish I had better pictures, the machine is not in my hands yet. One thing I found interesting are the wooden/felt interst that were inserted in an indentation in the casting, something not present in the reproductions, at least not the one in this post. This is one of the main things that leads me to beleive it is original, but I could be wrong

viewtopic.php?t=31167

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Curt A »

Maybe someone with an original could post some pics for comparison...

This picture purports to show an original Sears base (I stand corrected, they were nickel plated cast iron, not brass).

Screen Shot 2021-09-18 at 8.42.30 PM.png
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

Kent in KC
Victor II
Posts: 231
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:28 pm

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Kent in KC »

I had an original (Q) years ago. I always thought that a magnet was the easiest way to tell an original since the replicas were aluminum.

User avatar
Shawn
Victor IV
Posts: 1607
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 4:07 pm
Personal Text: Its only Fun, when we're all having Fun!
Contact:

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by Shawn »

They definitely came with an Eagle on them! Though much less seldom found than with the Q on them.
43 Columbia Fancy Base Eagle.png
Shawn
Subscribe to my music and phonograph videos at https://www.youtube.com/@Shawn_O_Phonograph

User avatar
ChuckA
Victor III
Posts: 547
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:32 pm
Personal Text: Learn from the mistakes of others - You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Location: South Eastern PA
Contact:

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by ChuckA »

My original base, I bought it about 25 years ago never cleaned or polished, it has a black base Q mounted on it.
IMG_0455.jpg
You can see the casting relief is much crisper in the originals than the reproductions.
They are cast iron and weigh much more than the reproductions.

Chuck

phonohound
Victor II
Posts: 468
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:51 am

Re: Sears fancy base for Columbia eagle?

Post by phonohound »

All nice examples. If a magnet sticks to the fancy base, then it is most likely original. Here are photos of mine with the Transitional Q (Nickel plated base with 2nd style motor) and original Columbia table crane and horn.
Attachments
20210919_112031.jpg
20210919_112045.jpg
20210919_112112.jpg
20210919_112104.jpg
20210919_112056.jpg

Post Reply