Show me your maroon Gems!

[Sonicfeather]

Sonicfeather --- can we please see better pictures of your "repro Gem picnic horn (the short one, which I hear is very rare)"? Your horn looks like a common, black, eight-panel, Edison Gem horn. What is different about yours that makes it rare? I've never heard the term "picnic horn" either. What does that term denote, and can you provide a picture of an original? Thank you for any insight about this horn you can provide!

Thanks for starting this thread,
Bob

Hey Bob, certainly!
I'll scour the web for a reference to a real one, but in the meantime....
Here's a side by side with my Fireside horn. The picnic is a one piece horn, and I've heard they are quite scarce. This one may even be a modified original black Gem horn with a shorter cone. But I've heard and read that originals exist.
Created for the advent of making the machines ultra-portable.

[Sonicfeather]

Thanks for starting this thread! I have a "thing" for Gems and have managed to collect all but the elusive, (and expensive), Model E. There are some nice examples here. Hope to see more!

Mine may be a model E that started its life as a model D. There's some mystery surrounding its origin or if it was simply modded to be a dedicated 4 minute machine. It has a Fireside Model B mandrel that only has the 4 minute gear. The original Model D step gear is anchored to the body by an external nut, which is the root of the mystery. Model E's gear is mounted the same way. I don't know...but I do love it as a 4 minute machine. My Fireside plays all of my 2 minute cylinders.

[MisterGramophone]

I have a cylinder machine, but it isn’t maroon nor a gem.

[JerryVan]

The picnic is a one piece horn, and I've heard they are quite scarce. This one may even be a modified original black Gem horn with a shorter cone.

I haven't heard the term "picnic horn" before, but then I haven't heard everything.

This is how a 1 pc. Gem horn should look. I believe that you're correct in that you have an original horn, but with a shorter cone attached.

[JerryVan]

Thanks for starting this thread! I have a "thing" for Gems and have managed to collect all but the elusive, (and expensive), Model E. There are some nice examples here. Hope to see more!

Mine may be a model E that started its life as a model D.

If it started out in life as a D, then it's a D. Notice the serial number on mine ends with a "D", while George's nameplate, being slightly later, specifically states "Model D". What does your nameplate say?

[Sonicfeather]

Mine has the serial suffixed with a D
(No Model D block on the bottom of the tag like later ones had)
Guessing it's a modified Model D then.

[JerryVan]

Mine has the serial suffixed with a D
(No Model D block on the bottom of the tag like later ones had)
Guessing it's a modified Model D then.

Cool. Thanks!

[Phonolair]

Ok I'll throw my little Gem in the ring. This is the model E, 4 minute only Gem.
If you just collected Edison Gems you'd have quite a collection considering all the variants from the beginning to the end of the production run.
Larry C

[gsphonos]

I love all GEM’s! Here are some of mine—Drip Pan GEM, Different Model A’s, Model B, C, D, and E. I have multiple model D’s, as I found at least 3 variations of where the “D” designation is on the data plate—a little excessive, but I love them all! Also, an original Green GEM horn from New Zealand. It has the original decal on it—but it is blank—meaning it does not say GEM or Fireside.

I also have an Edison Bell GEM with a New Model Reproducer (An English version of a C reproducer) and an Edison Bell “Edisonia” GEM Type I, which is an early Edison GEM Model A, with the GEM reproducer with the Edison Bell Identification Tag covering the “GEM” decal.

Mike Sorter
Riverside, CA

[phonogfp]

Mike, having 10 different Gems makes perfect sense to me! (Said a guy with 15 different Eagles.)

Very nice group.

George P.