Edison Home Language Machine

[JLH]

Recently I acquired this Edison Home Model A with the language repeater attachment. Have seen Standards with this but not a Home. Appears all factory made. The reproducer carriage has a different casting, to work with the repeater, which is pictured. Also has a crane mounting attachment on the rear that appears to have been there since back in the day. No crane was obtained with the machine. Would welcome any comments about the origin of this machine and what the crane would have been. Thanks!

[gramophoneshane]

I'm certainly no expert on these, but my understanding is that the Edison Standards you occasionally see are normally International Correspondence School (ICS) machines, and their repeat attachments where designed so the reproducer basically jumped back a few grooves and it repeated a small portion of the recording, so you could hear a word or phrase over again, which would be helpful for learning a language.

This attachment however, I think repeats the entire record, so it plays over and over again until the spring power is depleted.
It's a legitimate Edison aftermarket accessory that was available for different models at extra cost, but I don't think they sold very well as they don't seem to turn up near as often as ICS machines.
I don't suppose many people were keen to hear the same song played over 3 or 4 times.

[52089]

I have to (politely) disagree with you, Shane, at least as far as this being a full record repeater. This repeater appears to be the usual ICS-style repeater. You can see both the usual activation button on the far right of the lever and the deeply grooved area where the reproducer carriage touches the support rail. It is indeed unusual to find this on a Home and I wonder if this was a collector modifying his/her own machine rather than ICS. I don't see any evidence of the usual pin holes where the ICS plaque usually sits at the bottom center of the cabinet. It also looks to me like the Edison decal is a bit uneven in the "umbrella" paraph, which suggests a collector modification to me as well.

[gramophoneshane]

I have to (politely) disagree with you, Shane, at least as far as this being a full record repeater. This repeater appears to be the usual ICS-style repeater.

I'm happy to be corrected and always grateful to be educated on things that ive had little experience with.
I've actually never seen either repeater in person, and after seeing there were no signs of an ICS plaque ever being present, I assumed it was the other type as I'd never heard any reference to the ICS repeater being available as an additional accessory, or know that it was even possible to simply attach it as is to a Home, when most other attachment were manufactured model specific.
I also wonder then, was this same model repeater used on the Amberola 30 ICS machines as well?

[martinola]

I ran across a Model B Home on ebay that had a similar set-up. Here are my notes: "Serial #252453, Tall Style case with Edison decal. Has 2&4 minute attachment, has ICS type repeater with special nickel bottom to carrier arm - no other lift type - button or lever, has celluloid "Lyon & Healy" dealer tag on front (no ICS tag), signature on front of top casting, top mounted speed control, flat style crank. Located in Westerville, OH. 04/09/13." Maybe these were for music courses? It did look factory, but this is only the second one I've been aware of in the last 20 years. Interesting.

Martin

[NEFaurora]

Interesting ICS Machine for a Model "A" Home Long Case.... I've never seen a Model "A" Home Long Case ICS Machine...This one has the typical ICS Repeater.... Mine is the same on my ICS Model "B" Home machine...

Last year I rescued a very clean ICS Model "B" Home from a tip-off of a very old house that was being demolished. It is a Model B ICS Home, Serial Number 325552 sold June 1912. It actually has the Edison Dealer stamp and Dealer signature with the date ink stamped under the cover...which is amazing... It is only a 2-Minute machine. It needs some veneer work (a small amount) on the top cover and a good cleanup... The bedplate looks brand new... It is complete, and it has a typical ICS Repeater with an external Speed Control. The Repeater was the only thing missing a few parts, but I was lucky enough to track down all of the needed parts via Croakin'frog...(Marc Gaisser)..... He's a good man.

You don't see the ICS Homes too often, They are rather rare....Usually, You see the ICS Model "C" Standards for the norm...or the much later Amberola 30 ICS Machines

)

Tony K.
Edison Collector/Restorer

[tomb]

The crane is not too uncommon and fits in the back mount. I have one on my early standard four clip . I forgot what size horn it takes but I think a normal one should work. Check with Mark to see if he has one. That is a very early home that is not too far off from the red banner homes, maybe twenty or thirty thousand units. Martin will know as he has complied a great list of standards and home phonographs that is well worth down loading . It is a big big file. It shows features and serial numbers along with a great description. Check some back posts. It looks like it was factory or dealer installed. Maybe someone wanted a custom one that will run longer. ??? Nice phonograph and is a rare bird. Tom