EDISON CLASS M

[ducretet]

Hello,
I recently purchased a Class M. The serial number is:
K 7 3 3.
The letter K, what does it mean?
Thanks for your clarifications.
Regards,
Ferran

[Roaring20s]

It may help to see it. You may want to post a photo.

James.

[ducretet]

I attach images.
Regards,
Ferran

[JerryVan]

I'm afraid that I can only answer your question with other questions...

Has anyone seen a Class M with these block letter "EDISON" logos?
What is the lug for, circled below?

[phonospud]

Boy this one really has some peculiarities! I’ve restored a lot of class M’s both domestic and coin op and I’ve never seen that lug or those decals. My guess is that the lug has something to do with an auto return positioning for a coin op design that didn’t come to fruition or for a repeater design that didn’t pan out(?)
The K in the serial number, that’s a new one!

[Shawn]

Well Darren,

In an upcoming Episode of I Never Saw It In Real Life, I feature all the known (to me) documented Coin-op (Nickel/ Repeater) actions that have not been seen in real life - Glass, Wright, Douglass, Ling, and Hoyt. None of them, in the patent drawings or picture of the action show or require that additional lug. It is not from any coin-op that I currently know, or know of documented. That doesn't mean its not from one.

I would say the "K" looks like it was an addition to the serial number, rather than being struck at the time the serial number was struck. Its a different spacing, and differnt size. Again, that does not mean its not real. I think it is very real.

The final observation for now, is that the top works do not have the normal lugs present to hold the small belt pulleys. It is more like a converted Triumph with pins holding the pulleys. However, other charachteristics are like a Class M top works.

Shawn

[Roaring20s]

A picture is worth a thousand words!
Now, what are the extra parts in the drawer?
It may provide a clue.

James.

PS: Would this type of machine been available and used in a Keller Coin-Op?

[ducretet]

Thanks for your comments. I will send more photographs of the machine. I want to find out what it is about.
The engine runs perfectly.
If the serial number is correct, it is a very early number.
In any case, you have to restore, clean, etc.

[Shawn]

I agree, your serial number is correct, and early. However, that does not mean it is an early Class M, per se. In 1896 Edison was able to buy the North American Phonograph Company’s assets, and he formed the National Phonograph Company. At that time, he received all the Class M phonographs that were owned by the defunct North American Company. Over time, the National Phonograph Company refurbished the 1890's Class M phonographs and sold them to the public, as new. Therefore, the Serial Number, on most Class M phonographs is not indictative of when they were sold by the National Phonograph Company. As the North American Company mostly leased, and didn't sell Class M Phonographs, there are few surviving Class M's that weren't refurbished by the North American Company.

Your Class M is in the new-style case, which would place it around 1899 or later - definately one that was refurbished and sold by the National Phonograph Company. Additionally, it has pinstriping that is indicative of a later period Edison Product.

The most interesting (to me) oddity is the top-works. As I stated, it has no idler belt pully lugs like an early Class M top. However, it has the mandrel, class M knife edge, early shaver, and Class M type end gate. This configuration (A Class M top without Class M lugs) was used on the Edison Water power phonograph. However, that tops works doesn't appear to have that extra lug (In the surviving example at the Edison National site), noted by Darren, to the left of the knife edge.

I've attached catalog picture of the Water Power. It is not clear, but there may well be a lug there in the picture.

So, still a little bit of a mystery!

Shawn

[Shawn]

For reference, here is a screen print of the picture of the Water Power phonograph at the Edison Historic Site. This top is even different than the Picture in the ad. It has the idler pulley lugs.