Where to look up Edison serial numbers?

[phonogfp]

You're very welcome - - I wish I could be more specific.

George P.

[ts_13]

I don't thank you enough. Thank you for helping out.

[edmdavis11]

Hi, I have a Home Model A with shaver and I was also wondering about the date of manufacture. I know this discussion is several years old but I thought I’d try anyways. I really appreciate phonogfp and his enthusiasm to help folks learn about their machines! My serial number is: 135764

[AmberolaAndy]

Hi, I have a Home Model A with shaver and I was also wondering about the date of manufacture. I know this discussion is several years old but I thought I’d try anyways. I really appreciate phonogfp and his enthusiasm to help folks learn about their machines! My serial number is: 135764

Judging by what George said in previous posts, your machine was manufactured in 1905? Sometime between March and October that year. George will tell you what month it left the factory.

[phonogfp]

Hi, I have a Home Model A with shaver and I was also wondering about the date of manufacture. I know this discussion is several years old but I thought I’d try anyways. I really appreciate phonogfp and his enthusiasm to help folks learn about their machines! My serial number is: 135764

I'm always glad to help. According to Edison sales data, Home #135764 left the factory in May 1905.

George P.

[edmdavis11]

Thank you both for helping me learn more about my phonograph! Much appreciated!
Ed

[phonogfp]

You're very welcome. If you haven't already found them, there are several helpful free introductory articles on the Antique Phonograph Society website:

https://www.antiquephono.org/category/introductory/

Have fun!

George P.

[streetmechanic14]

Is it possible to get an idea when an Edison Home serial number 470 left the factory? I put the question this way because it seems as if Edison, at the beginning of a model's production run, assembled parts in an almost random way often resulting in early and slightly later machine details showing up together in a way that defies linear serial numbering.
-Dave

[phonogfp]

Edison Home #470 left the factory in April 1897.

The appearance of early and later components could not occur at the beginning of a production run (which Home #470 certainly represents). There were obviously no later parts available when starting out. The "mixing" sometimes occurred later, when earlier inventoried parts were buried beneath/behind newer designs and later uncovered to be assembled into complete machines. This didn't affect the consecutiveness or continuity of the serial numbering; just the features that might appear on a particular machine during the transition period.

George P.

[streetmechanic14]

I didn't put my question very skillfully. In my ignorance I used to ask "At what serial number did this or that feature end and its replacement begin". Some long time collectors noted that it wasn't always so cut and dried. If an early machine was reworked at the factory was the serial number applied after the rework or did it keep its original number? For what it's worth, years ago I worked at a manufacturing plant where it was routine to alter a machine in storage from an unpopular form to something more likely to sell, sometimes including updated features. The serial numbers were unchanged. In the unlikely event anyone starts to collect these things (they were early electronic scales) they'll find an occasional surprise.
-Dave