Found in the Wilds of Facebook Marketplace, Early Home Suitcase, 2 and 4 minute conversion with Model O Reproducer

[Django]

Fascinating photos. Looks like some brown wax cylinders in that case as well. What was the cost? It couldn’t have been too cheap. Great photos!

She was asking $500, and that is what I paid. I sent her a full priced offer. She told me that a number of others that were trying to get it for a lot less. I knew that the Model O reproducer and crank were worth her asking price, so I made the commitment based on the pictures. I don’t try to get something for less than the asking price if it is already a very good deal. I feel a bit guilty now about getting everything for $500. I’m glad that nobody got it for less. She was a nice lady and she was happy that it was going to a collector, rather than a reseller.

There were four brown wax cylinders. Two are blanks and the others are home recordings from a New Years Eve gathering, (there was an old typed note describing the gathering). I have sorted through the cylinders and many are damaged, but there are quite a few that are in decent condition, including a Christmas song. The old stagecoach trunk is in decent shape as well.

Thank you everyone for your comments, information and advice. It will probably remain a period converted machine. It should clean up nicely and it functions now. The Model O reproducer in in great condition. There are no holes in the cabinet for a crane, so I think that they probably used a floor crane. My plan is to make a nice table crane for it.

[Garret]

Put the brown wax cylinders somewhere safe. WOW!

[KCW]

You made out really well. The home recording is in my opinion the real jewel. I absolutely love these little slices of life from all those years ago. They are priceless, but it is a little sad that no one in that family wanted to keep it. Imagine a home recording of your own family from 100 years ago!

Could we persuade you to post a video of the machine playing the New Year’s Eve home recording along with the typed note? These things fascinate me to no end. What an amazing find!

[phonogfp]

Could we persuade you to post a video of the machine playing the New Year’s Eve home recording along with the typed note?

A Model O Reproducer - especially if it's the round-weight version - is not a good choice for brown wax.

George P.

[KCW]

Perhaps you could play it in another machine? Would love to hear that home recording. I posted one I found on eBay a few months back.

[Django]

Could we persuade you to post a video of the machine playing the New Year’s Eve home recording along with the typed note?

A Model O Reproducer - especially if it's the round-weight version - is not a good choice for brown wax.

George P.

Always good advice. I was going to listen to them on one of my Columbia AT machines.

[phonogfp]

I was going to listen to them on one of my Columbia AT machines.

That would be a good choice. Before playing those cylinders, I recommend carefully wiping off the grunge with an old T-shirt, terry towel, or other all-cotton material.

I'd be interested in learning the date of that New Year's Eve record.

George P.

[fran604g]

Wow! Like George, I'm very curious of the New Year's eve recording. How nice!

Fran

[KCW]

Would love to hear it as well and find out what year. For my brown wax find I took a video of the phonograph playing with my cell phone and then posted it. The audio wasn’t too bad! Give it a try!

[Django]

I was going to listen to them on one of my Columbia AT machines.

That would be a good choice. Before playing those cylinders, I recommend carefully wiping off the grunge with an old T-shirt, terry towel, or other all-cotton material.

I'd be interested in learning the date of that New Year's Eve record.

George P.

I will try to record it. I have a good, stereo microphone for recording my guitar, but I only want to play it once, so I will have to experiment with my setup first. I haven’t made any cylinder recordings. I’m a little busy at the moment, but I will try to do something before the weekend. I hope that it’s not a disappointment.

This whole purchase has been pretty interesting for me. The horn had a number of seem separations,(one that was full length and about ⅛” wide in the middle), but no splits or real damage. It’s coming along well. I am using Titebond Wood Glue, (no epoxy). If it is good enough for the Martin Guitar Company, then it’s good enough for me.