OFF MARKET: EDISON OPERA

[Raphael]

I am offering this phonograph, which I acquired recently as part of a large bulk purchase. Neither I nor the collector who sold it to me was aware of it's provenance, or lack thereof.

What we have is an "Opera" with a "Concert" tag. It plays wonderfully as seen here: https://youtu.be/bXPp9iwZnOk

BUT, upon closer inspection, I discovered that there were no hold-down bolts securing the bedplate to the wood casing. Then underneath, there is the remains of the securing pin used on an Amberola III, whose mechanism easily lifts out of the chassis. Hmmmmm.........so I contacted a number of people who have been collecting and repairing phonographs since the Dark Ages, and they confirmed to me that back in the good old days, some people took the mechanisms out of an Amberola III, and converted them to Opera standards by removing the horn connection and installing a repro horn support and reproducer lift device, virtually indistinguishable from an original.

Why this was done, or who did it, is a matter of speculation. I suppose one could call it a "poor man's Opera". But it is what it is, and has a beautiful case with lid, horn and elbow. It obviously is not a piece for a collector purist, and I hope the Phonograph Police don't seek to have me indicted, as I have attempted to disclose everything that I know.

Contact me at [email protected] - No PM's please.

thanks,

Raphael

[epigramophone]

Would you say that the very dark colour is authentic for a mahogany Opera?
I ask because my Concert is equally dark, but most examples I see look lighter.

[Raphael]

I’ve seen many this dark. Keep in mind that after 10+ years, colors fade, etc. This example has been refinished.

I never gave this a second glance when I acquired it in the collection; the color did not give me pause.


Raphael

[JerryVan]

Were Amberola III mechanisms badged as a "Concert"?

[Raphael]

Were Amberola III mechanisms badged as a "Concert"?

Not to my knowledge, but reproduction nameplates have been known to be made. This is either a repo or a takeoff from an original Concert.

Raphael

[Raphael]

Were Amberola III mechanisms badged as a "Concert"?

The nametag on my Amberola III is attached to the cabinet, see picture.

As you can see in the picture below, the serial number on the "Opera" mechanism is that of a III.

Raphael

[Raphael]

Rich Gordon kindly researched the 2017 thread that discussed (among other things) these conversions: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30933&p=184083&hili ... ra#p184083

I'm taking this off-market so that nobody down the road tries to sell this as the Real Deal.

Raphael