Columbia Graphophone Grand Information Update

[ChuckA]

It's been almost 3 years since the last request was made for information on the Columbia Grand Models. I've been collecting some data over the past years but it's been slow. Most of the data has come from searching through auction listings very little from collectors directly.

George Paul and I are planning an article for the APM for later this year with data that has been collected so far, so I'm asking for any new information from owners to help fill in some of the gaps in the model lines. So far after almost 10 years there are 135 machines accounted for all models.

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Questionnaire Model GG

1) Serial Number (stamped in bed plate)
2) Front decal type ("The Graphophone" or "The Graphophone Grand")
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal?
4) Handles on cabinet?
5) Reproducer type (#2 or #4)
6) Lettering on feed screw cover (Script or Block)
7) Any other information/paper acquired with machine


Questionnaire Model HG / AD / SG

1) Serial Number (on metal ID Plate) N/A for AD
2) Front decal type ("The Graphophone" or "The Home Grand Graphophone")
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal?
4) 1st or 2nd style? N/A for AD
5) Reproducer (#4 or #5)
6) Any other information/paper acquired with machine


Questionnaire Model AG / AF

1) Serial Number (on metal ID Plate) N/A for AF
2) Bed plate type (unpainted aluminum, nickel plated steel, painted aluminum) N/A for AF
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal?
4) Reproducer (#4 or #5)
5) Any other information/paper acquired with machine


Questionnaire Model AB

1) Serial Number (on metal ID Plate)
2) Front decal type ("The Graphophone" or ?)
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal?
4) Reproducer (#4 or #5)
5) Reproduce lift type

There seems to be two styles of reproducer lift mechanisms used on the AB. One has the forked
lift on the reproducer and the "T" lift arm, the other has a single metal tab on the reproducer ball tube and
pin lift.

6) Any other information/paper acquired with machine
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I also would be interested in any information on the Columbia Model BM that any collectors may own. This one appears to have been a lousy seller and very few seem to have been manufactured. I have collected serial numbers from 9 units from #196 to #1755

Thanks
Chuck

[edisonphono]

Model AB

1) Serial Number: 756367
2) Front decal type: The Graphophone
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal: New York & Paris
4) Reproducer: #4
5) Reproducer lift type: Fork

Regards,

Bill Meyer
East Syracuse, N.Y.
https://ascobill.wixsite.com/edisonphono

[JerryVan]

Model AB

1) Serial Number: 756169
2) Front decal type: "The Graphophone"
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal?: New York & Paris
4) Reproducer: #5
5) Reproducer lift type: Fork

[phonospud]

Questionnaire Model AF

1) Serial Number (on metal ID Plate) N/A
2) Bed plate type nickel plated steel
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal? New York & Paris
4) Reproducer (#4 or #5) #4
5) Any other information/paper acquired with machine - none

[phonospud]

Questionnaire Model HG

1) Serial Number (on metal ID Plate) 5473
2) Front decal type The Home Grand Graphophone
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal? New York & London
4) 1st or 2nd style? 2nd style
5) Reproducer (#4 or #5) #5
6) Any other information/paper acquired with machine none

[ChuckA]

Thanks for the new information. Every little bit helps

I'm including a table showing the various reproducers found on the Grand machines:

Chuck

[phonospud]

Questionnaire Model GG

1) Serial Number (stamped in bed plate) 46
2) Front decal type "The Graphophone"
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal? 1156, 1157, & 1159 Broadway NY New York
4) Handles on cabinet? No
5) Reproducer type #2
6) Lettering on feed screw cover (Script or Block) Hand painted gold script listing cities New York & Paris
7) Any other information/paper acquired with machine: see below

My machine has a brass tag approx. ¾" dia. riveted to the left side of the mandrel with two rivets and the following information professionally stamped into it, not hand stamped: MODEL 1588.
I've seen numerous Graphophone oddities and prototypes in the late Charley Hummel's collection with similar tags. Possibly Columbia engineering archives (?) How does a machine like this end up in a farm barn/turned flea market in Courtland, Ontario, Canada, 30 minutes from my home, for $250 bucks???

[Phonolair]

Chuck hopefully these will be some new serial numbers.

Model HG
1) Serial Number 5646
2) Front decal type The Home Grand Graphophone
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal? New York & London
4) 1st or 2nd style? 2nd style
5) Reproducer (#4 or #5) #5
6) Any other information/paper acquired with machine None

Model AB
1) Serial Number: 757750
2) Front decal type: The Graphophone
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal? New York & Paris
4) Reproducer: #5
5) Reproducer lift type: Fork

Model BM
1) Serial Number: 112
2) Front decal type: The Graphophone
3) What cities & address are listed in bottom right of the decal? New York & London

Larry C

[ChuckA]

Thanks for your information Larry. I didn't have any of those numbers in the database. So far your BM is the lowest number found.

Chuck

[Martymar06]

Model AF

1. Serial Number: N/A
2. Bed plate type: Nickel plate
3. Decal type: The Graphophone New York, London, Paris, Berlin
4. Reproducer: #5
5. Any other info: Dark Oak case


Model AB

1. Serial Number: 750045
2. Front decal type: "The Graphophone"
3. Cities: New York and London
4. Reproducer: #4
5: Reproducer Lift Type: Fork-lift "T" Lift Arm