Columbia AA Graphophone Serial Number Research

[phonospud]

S/N 703220
Eagle Reproducer
Large decal
No decal on rear panel
10" nickel horn

Cheers,

Darren

[Phono+888]

SN: 704509
Large Decal
No rear panel decal
Eagle Reproducer
10" Nickel Horn

[drboruff]

Thanks for doing this Rene'. Below are 2 for your research.
David

S/N: 712352
Large Decal
Rear Panel Decal: Paris Exposition
D Reproducer
10" Nickel Horn

S/N: 713327
Small Decal (later style "Columbia Graphophone" rather than "Graphophone")
Rear Panel Decal: Milan Exposition
D Reproducer
No horn when found

[TinfoilPhono]

Thanks everyone. We're slowly getting information together. I have 22 on file so far.

Small Decal (later style "Columbia Graphophone" rather than "Graphophone")

That is very intriguing! Can you post a photo? That is the highest number I have yet found. The other small decal ones on file say Graphophone. Yours is also the first I have recorded that has the 1906 Milan decal, though I know there are others out there.

[drboruff]

Thanks Rene'. Here is a picture.
David

[TinfoilPhono]

That's fascinating, thanks for the picture. I wonder how many more are out there with that decal? I know there are some other AAs with the 1906 Milan award decal, hopefully more collectors will chime in on this thread so we can expand the database.

The census is still too small to draw valid conclusions, but I'm finding it curious that over half of the reported numbers are in the 12,000-13,000 range (all preceded by 7, of course), with the remaining half very widely scattered through the previous 11,000. It seems as though a lot more late examples remain than early ones, but of course that could be subject to change as more data is acquired. It's also interesting that D reproducers outnumber Eagles by just over 3 to 1. That must have been a popular upgrade.

[Phonolair]

Here's a few more to add to the list.

#707756
Large front decal
No back decal
Eagle reproducer
10" nickel horn

#705568
Large front decal
No back decal
No reproducer or horn

No 711975
Large front decal
No back decal
D reproducer
No horn

Larry C

[Phono-Phan]

Forgive my lack of Columbia knowledge. I believe this one is a BV? It is about the same size at the AA. Not sure where this model is in the Columbia line. It has the small banner decal and the decal on the back and mentions the St. Louis Exposition-1904.

[phonogfp]

The BV is of course an entirely different machine. An article on the B-series Graphophones appeared in the December 2022 issue of the APS magazine. The BV was mentioned:

The final addition to the B-series Graphophones was the diminutive BV (and BVT) in 1908. Powered by a single mainspring, the BV/BVT employed a unique reproducer with a spring-loaded stylus and diaphragm built into the carriage. Priced at only $12.00, the machine seems to have been designed primarily for the mail-order trade, and indeed most BV and BVTs appear to have been sold through Sears, Roebuck, and Company.

George P.

[TinfoilPhono]

The BV is another underappreciated machine, in my opinion. It's less decorative than the AA, but it is surprisingly robust and works well. At the original price it was a great bargain, so it's somewhat surprising that they are not more common.

As George notes, many (most?) of these were marketed through Sears, without a Columbia decal.

Very nice little Graphophone!