Best finds of 2021?

[fran604g]

My favorite find of 2021 came near the end of the year: a beautiful Edison A-275 found on Facebook marketplace offered by an antique dealer who was selling it for a friend for $125.00 I have always admired the beautiful inlay work on these but had never before had the opportunity to purchase one. The photos show it after a good cleaning. Reaching behind the drawer yielded the wooden reproducer box with the serial number of the reproducer on the machine hand written on the box. Also a bottle of "Edison Diamond Oil." As if that were not good enough two weeks later the dealer texted me that the friend had found the records that were in it and I could have them if I wanted! No extra charge. I went right down and picked up about 40 very early diamond discs including one of the very short lived "Preliminary Couplings" that were only made in 1912/13. I consider myself very fortunate! Good Luck to all in 2022! IMG_0910.JPG

$125 for an A 275 is stellar, you're very lucky to have such a beautiful Phonograph! Congratulations.

Cheers,
Fran

[Zwebie]

At the end of December, I picked up this nice untouched Columbia AA Graphophone. I had been looking for an AA for a while and I found this one to be very interesting. According to Howard Hazelcorns Columbia Phonograph Companion Volume I:

“Though this model was offered only in 1901 and 1902 catalogs, a single Type ‘AA’ has been found with a small “the Graphophone” banner decal on the front (the small decal is only found on later machines) and a gold “Milan Exposition 1906” shield decal on the back. This cabinet obviously had to leave the Columbia factory sometime after late 1906.”

Well, it looks like this is the second one found. The PAT’D AUG.22,05 on the 10” nickel horn, that appears to have been with this machine from the start, would also indicate that this was a late machine. My guess is that the original owner upgraded from the #2 to the #5 reproducer for better sound, as the reproducer also looks original to the machine.

Still looking for a correct original crank. Any leads would be appreciated.

Cheers, Bob S.

[fran604g]

I really like the Type AA. They're just so odd appearing for the time period. Like a throwback to the N or something. I think they're awesome.

[phonogfp]

Bob,

Actually, several late AA Graphophones have turned up since Howard's book was published in 1999. Here's an article that appeared in the June 2020 issue of the APS magazine. Note the possible explanation for these late AAs on page 19:

GraphoAAart.pdf

(1.68 MiB) Downloaded 64 times

Which reminds me - - IT'S TIME TO JOIN/RENEW FOR 2022!

https://www.antiquephono.org/join-us-home/

George P.

[Ripduf1]

It was a long time coming but thanks to two forum members my line up of Victor "Cabinets that Match" is complete. James posted the auction in Arkansas and Larry was king enough to pick up and deliver it to me at the Hazelcorn Auction. After a month of elbow grease and some tedious paint spatter (understatement) removal it has taken its place in my collection. It is not perfect but this completes for me the "Cabinets that Match" Vic I thru VI.

Apologies for the image being rotated until enlarged - I have a new computer (windows 11) and it use to be controllable in 7 by rotating and saving but now that doesn't work for me. If it is a setting please PM me. John

[fran604g]

Congratulations John, that looks great!

Cheers,
Fran

[poodling around]

At the end of December, I picked up this nice untouched Columbia AA Graphophone. I had been looking for an AA for a while and I found this one to be very interesting. According to Howard Hazelcorns Columbia Phonograph Companion Volume I:

“Though this model was offered only in 1901 and 1902 catalogs, a single Type ‘AA’ has been found with a small “the Graphophone” banner decal on the front (the small decal is only found on later machines) and a gold “Milan Exposition 1906” shield decal on the back. This cabinet obviously had to leave the Columbia factory sometime after late 1906.”

Well, it looks like this is the second one found. The PAT’D AUG.22,05 on the 10” nickel horn, that appears to have been with this machine from the start, would also indicate that this was a late machine. My guess is that the original owner upgraded from the #2 to the #5 reproducer for better sound, as the reproducer also looks original to the machine.

Still looking for a correct original crank. Any leads would be appreciated.

Cheers, Bob S.

Hello there,
I noticed the date stamped onto your horn and I remembered that I have a horn which has the same date stamped onto it.

The stamp marks are a different size and 'lay-out' and the horn looks different to yours. However, because the 'PAT' date is the same I now assume that mine is a Columbia too maybe ?

I have always also wondered about the type of machine it was originally connected to and now wonder if (like yours) it was a cylinder phonograph ?

Would you please consider this and have a look at the photograph 'below' and let me know your thoughts about my mystery horn ?

[JeffR1]

It was a long time coming but thanks to two forum members my line up of Victor "Cabinets that Match" is complete. James posted the auction in Arkansas and Larry was king enough to pick up and deliver it to me at the Hazelcorn Auction. After a month of elbow grease and some tedious paint spatter (understatement) removal it has taken its place in my collection. It is not perfect but this completes for me the "Cabinets that Match" Vic I thru VI.

Apologies for the image being rotated until enlarged - I have a new computer (windows 11) and it use to be controllable in 7 by rotating and saving but now that doesn't work for me. If it is a setting please PM me. John

The cabinet is great, but that Victor brass horn !

[phonogfp]

Hello there,
I noticed the date stamped onto your horn and I remembered that I have a horn which has the same date stamped onto it.

The stamp marks are a different size and 'lay-out' and the horn looks different to yours. However, because the 'PAT' date is the same I now assume that mine is a Columbia too maybe ?

I have always also wondered about the type of machine it was originally connected to and now wonder if (like yours) it was a cylinder phonograph ?

August 22, 1905 was the date on which Charles Eichhorn was granted a U.S. patent (No.797,725) for an “Amplifying Horn.” This patent was assigned to the Tea Tray Company, and this date can be found on 14" black & brass horns like yours (standard equipment with most Edison Phonographs until late 1907) as well as larger "morning glory" horns. When Edison began supplying large flower horns with its Phonographs in October 1907, they were manufactured to the specifications of this patent.

George P.

[phonogfp]

Very nice cabinet for the Victor VI, John - - congratulations on completing the set!

George P.