U.S. Phonograph Peerless ?

[mjbarnes]

So how many are in existence? The 275 lb. monster cylinder phonograph!

[JohnM]

One of which I’m aware, heavily restored over 40 years ago. Used to be in Homer’s Museum in Texas. An empty cabinet was found about 5 years ago. Not sure what happened to it. I’m pretty sure that a ‘Peerless’ doesn’t weigh 375lbs!

[Pete Stratford]

Shipping weight with wooden crate 275 lbs

[edisonclassm]

There is one complete original machine known to exist. I bought it from Bob Fulwider who bought it from Dennis Devine from Council Bluffs, Iowa. I restored it and sold it to Walt Bellm from Florida who had it in his museum. There was another one sold at the Larry Wojtkiewicz auction 20+ years ago in Omaha Nebraska. It was supposed to be complete but had been completely disassembled. I was the underbidder on that one. It disappeared into the collector woodwork and has never resurfaced. A third empty cabinet turned up a few years back and was purchased by a collector in Missouri. As far as I know he installed a US Opera mech in it which is nearly the same as the Peerless mech. Homer Deford of Texas never owned one of these machines. I know that for a fact. As far as the weight of these machines go, it probably weighs in the neighborhood of 80-100lbs. The 275lbs in the above ad is a bit much. I never did get a chance to put mine on the scale! I have to admit this is one spectacular machine!

[mjbarnes]

Can anybody post pictures of the mechanics?

[JohnM]

Here you go.

[edisonclassm]

Those photos were taken in the mid 80's. I had just finished the restoration and was on my way to Union with the machine. I stopped by my friend's place in Ohio and we unloaded the machine and took photos. So John, where did you dig up those photos?

[mjbarnes]

I would like to know why the reproducer -- if that is what it is -- is as long as a cylinder record.

[mrvic2]

I would like to know why the reproducer -- if that is what it is -- is as long as a cylinder record.

U.S. Phonograph Company had an interesting system for playing both 2 & 4 minute cylinders on one machine. That round part infront of the assembly let's you choose between one of two reproducers making contact with the record, one having the 2 minute stylus, and one having the 4 minute stylus

[JerryVan]

I would like to know why the reproducer -- if that is what it is -- is as long as a cylinder record.

U.S. Phonograph Company had an interesting system for playing both 2 & 4 minute cylinders on one machine. That round part in front of the assembly let's you choose between one of two reproducers making contact with the record, one having the 2 minute stylus, and one having the 4 minute stylus

... and they are an absolute nightmare in pot metal.