Edison Home ID Please!!

[whitedogfive]

I have a Edison home cylinder phonograph I just bought. I am a newbie at this and have an ID question. I have attached photos to help the more knowedgeable. Inside the top cover it says that this phono is a type D made by the National Phonograph Company. I am assuming that this is a model D phonograph. It has a cygnet horn with the early top attachment. It does not have a banner decal, but a simple "EDISON" script. The serial number is 342XXX, plays 4 minute cylinders only and has the gate that holds the mandrel steady. It is not a combination machine. What confuses me is that it has the speed adjustment on the left front of the machine, above the top plate. I believe this feature was discontinued around 1905 and the subsequent machines can be adjusted by opening the machine and exposing the motor. So, why is it that this machine, I am assuming made around 1908 or 1909, has the speed adjustment above the top plate? I have never seen a model D with this feature unless it has the banner decal. The machine has its original finish, very simple pin striping with no blue striping and bought from a collector that only collects original machines. So, what gives?

[Amberola 1-A]

Your machine appears to be a Mod. B as evidenced by the endgate, ser #, & striping. Apparently, someone modified the speed control so they could access it from the top like the earlier A.
I notice that you appear to have the belt pulley & shift mechanism from a D. It is currently out for 4M play (the shift mechanism) but have you tried to push it in for 2M play?
If you can push it in and get 2M gearing, you need to get an adapter & a Mod C Reproducer and remove the Mod. B reproducer which has a diamond stylus. That way you can play the 2M wax w/o damage.
If you get 2M Indestructible records or U.S. Everlasting, you can play those with the diamond stylus as they are celluloid.

[martinola]

Hi whitedogfive!

That's a very interesting Home machine. With the endgate being present, that pretty much makes it a model B. However you have a Late style case which seems to come into use on the very early model D machines. The model D with the lowest serial number that I've noted is 339682. Apart from being a case swap, I'd guess that you have an end-of-run model B. Many of the model C and up machines had their model type expressed as a suffix to the serial number (ie: 339682D). I'd suspect that yours actually has the 2 minute speed as well. Try pushing the inner part (right side) of the mandrel pulley all the way to the left and see if the speed changes. Both the Edison factory and the dealers upgraded many unsold model B machines to move them. Also, the owners of older machines were offered upgrades by the dealers, and many chose to do so. The Diamond B reproducer, obviously dates to 1912 or later.

As to the speed control on top, I too am perplexed. It looks like a very neat job if it was just a one-off customization. Frow mentions in his book on Edison phonographs that both the Technical Supply Company and International Textbook Company offered the Home as well as the Standard for their language courses. Since the language records ran at 90 rpm (at least the ones I know about), the top speed adjusting feature would have been important (especially if you also wanted to listen to music records as well). However, there should be some kind of repeating device (or holes for one) on the straight edge, and I really don't see that here. Anybody else have a take on this? If nothing else you have a nice, very late Home B with a cool modification.

Best Regards,
Martin

[whitedogfive]

Boy, you guys are a wealth of information. I am learning alot!! Yes, it does have the pulley to adjust to a 2 minute cylinder. Very interesting on this potentially being a language machine, makes sence to have the speed adjuster available on the top for easy changes. I would not think this was a custom option as you would have to drill through the top plate. Maybe it was ordered by schools as an option for what you needed. Maybe schools had that opportunity when the general public did not.
If the case is not original, I am wondering why it was swapped out? Damage maybe, we will never know I guess.
I imagine on the older machines, as new options became available, these machines were upgraded to include the cygnet horn.
Thanks for your insight and keep the responses coming, this is great.

[Amberola 1-A]

Over the years, I have come across later model Edison machines (Standards & Homes) that had the speed control moved to the top and these were not for ICS as evidenced by the somewhat crude holes in the bedplate and lack of repeating attachment. The most interesting thing about these machines was that they all had Cygnet horns. I reasoned that to get to the speed control, you had to remove the crank and pull off the rubber connector to the Reproducer just to lift the motor board, so some clever owners modified these particular machines.
It is hard to tell, but in you last photo when blown up, it appears that there is a ragged edge to the hole for the knob.

Bill

[martinola]

Over the years, I have come across later model Edison machines (Standards & Homes) that had the speed control moved to the top and these were not for ICS as evidenced by the somewhat crude holes in the bedplate and lack of repeating attachment. The most interesting thing about these machines was that they all had Cygnet horns. I reasoned that to get to the speed control, you had to remove the crank and pull off the rubber connector to the Reproducer just to lift the motor board, so some clever owners modified these particular machines.

Hmm. That actually sounds more likely than a language machine. Frow's description of a Home language machine is pretty sketchy. In any event, I like the top-mounted speed control feature. I always found it ironic that about the time that Edison put on the speed test marks to facilitate adjusting the speed, they moved the control under the bedplate so people couldn't get at it so easily.

As far as the case goes, I think it is likely original to the machine. Your model B has a late serial number that occurs after the Late style case was introduced. All-in-all, you have a very cool model B. If you follow Bill's advice and get the reducer ring and a model C reproducer, you'll have a great 2 minute player as well. Enjoy!

-Martin

[gramophoneshane]

I would imagine that, if the speed control hole was drilled at the factory, the hole would be painted with black japan & shellac which matched the rest of the bedplate finish, but if it was a later addition, it would either be bare metal inside the hole, or possibly be painted over to prevent rust but it's unlikely it'd match the rest of the bedplate.
Whatever the case, it's still a fantastic looking machine!

[whitedogfive]

I inspected the hole more carefully with a 10 power loop and there are chips at the edge of the hole and the adjustment knob is not centered. It is far to the right and the rod going down into the machine is almost touching the edge of the hole. It is free to turn easily, but I would imagine the factory would center the knob. I like the case better than the normal model B case, does anyone know the year this machine was made? Also, when do you think the horn was added with the early top attachment. Thanks for all your help.