Amberola marked Type SM Model B1

[shopdoc]

Is there any way to figure out the roman numeral model of my dad's floor model amberola that is marked Type SM Model B1 serial number 4950? I saw an earlier post that made me think it might be III

[Homestead]

Greetings...that sounds like the Amberola B1 or 1B as some call it. The A1 was a combination 2/4 minute player, and was belt driven. It is very desirable due to the fact that it is the only Amberola to play 2 minute cylinders. It originally came with the Model L reproducer and later the M (2/4 minute type, like the Model O). The B1 was strictly a 4 minute machine with an Opera type works. Usually found with the Diamond A reproducer for Blue Amberols, but with the L reproducer it could play the 4 minute wax Amberol cylinders. Both of these machines are wonderful. I own a B1 and just love the Edison decal in the lid....IMHO the best one Edison ever had. You can learn about the 1A and 1B on YouTube, and their differences. All the best to you! James Manker

[shopdoc]

Greetings...that sounds like the Amberola B1 or 1B as some call it. The A1 was a combination 2/4 minute player, and was belt driven. It is very desirable due to the fact that it is the only Amberola to play 2 minute cylinders. It originally came with the Model L reproducer and later the M (2/4 minute type, like the Model O). The B1 was strictly a 4 minute machine with an Opera type works. Usually found with the Diamond A reproducer for Blue Amberols, but with the L reproducer it could play the 4 minute wax Amberol cylinders. Both of these machines are wonderful. I own a B1 and just love the Edison decal in the lid....IMHO the best one Edison ever had. You can learn about the 1A and 1B on YouTube, and their differences. All the best to you! James Manker

Thank you for the info. If I understand correctly, this was a model that wasn't part of the roman numeral series? Clearly I have a lot to learn.

[JerryVan]

You have received some excellent advice. As an added tip, posting photos of the item in question will make it much easier to help you in your future requests for information.

[shopdoc]

You have received some excellent advice. As an added tip, posting photos of the item in question will make it much easier to help you in your future requests for information.

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but when working from a list while the phonographs are 300 miles away, the expertise of the kind folks here is priceless. In retrospect, taking pictures while we were making the list would have been ideal. But the sheer number was overwhelming until I had them in a list and could start figuring out what was there.

[JerryVan]

You have received some excellent advice. As an added tip, posting photos of the item in question will make it much easier to help you in your future requests for information.

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but when working from a list while the phonographs are 300 miles away, the expertise of the kind folks here is priceless. In retrospect, taking pictures while we were making the list would have been ideal. But the sheer number was overwhelming until I had them in a list and could start figuring out what was there.

Yes, very understandable.

[shopdoc]

Greetings...that sounds like the Amberola B1 or 1B as some call it. The A1 was a combination 2/4 minute player, and was belt driven. It is very desirable due to the fact that it is the only Amberola to play 2 minute cylinders. It originally came with the Model L reproducer and later the M (2/4 minute type, like the Model O). The B1 was strictly a 4 minute machine with an Opera type works. Usually found with the Diamond A reproducer for Blue Amberols, but with the L reproducer it could play the 4 minute wax Amberol cylinders. Both of these machines are wonderful. I own a B1 and just love the Edison decal in the lid....IMHO the best one Edison ever had. You can learn about the 1A and 1B on YouTube, and their differences. All the best to you! James Manker

You have me very curious about what dad's actually looks like. Growing up with a roomfull of them, and anybody who came to the door getting invited in to listen (really, even the mormon missionaries), I really didn't think of them individually. Especially since we weren't allowed to touch them. Next weekend will be the first time I ever play one myself.

[drh]

Is there any way to figure out the roman numeral model of my dad's floor model amberola that is marked Type SM Model B1 serial number 4950? I saw an earlier post that made me think it might be III

In case it will help narrow things down, the Amberola III had a distinctive cabinet, being like a table model on stilts with a shelf below. It was the same one Edison issued for the A and B 150 diamond disc machines. You can see some photos of the Amberola I variants and the Amberola III here: https://phonographcompany.com/project_category/edison/

[shopdoc]

Is there any way to figure out the roman numeral model of my dad's floor model amberola that is marked Type SM Model B1 serial number 4950? I saw an earlier post that made me think it might be III

In case it will help narrow things down, the Amberola III had a distinctive cabinet, being like a table model on stilts with a shelf below. It was the same one Edison issued for the A and B 150 diamond disc machines. You can see some photos of the Amberola I variants and the Amberola III here: https://phonographcompany.com/project_category/edison/

Thank you!