Looking for advice: Fair price for an Edison Standard with Model K reproducer?

[ChuckA]

Model F is good if you only want to play 4 min celluloid records. It's a 4 min only machine, sold with a Diamond B reproducer, so the O reproducer only helps if you want to play 4 min wax records.

Chuck

[outune]

Hi- I'll have to disagree with Chuck on this-- The Standard Model F came from the factory as a 2 and 4 minute machine and was equipped with a special carriage, an "S" reproducer (like a "K" but larger diaphragm), and a cygnet horn- The "S" fits into the smaller carriage eye and has the rotating turntable to choose either the two or four minute stylus. My "F" is my go to machine. The "S" reproducer has very good volume and plays well.

Brad Abell

[ChuckA]

Sorry about that, for some reason I thought the post was about the Home F. You're right Brad, I should have read the post closer, Got one of those around here somewhere.

Chuck

[Aristophane]

Hi- I'll have to disagree with Chuck on this-- The Standard Model F came from the factory as a 2 and 4 minute machine and was equipped with a special carriage, an "S" reproducer (like a "K" but larger diaphragm), and a cygnet horn- The "S" fits into the smaller carriage eye and has the rotating turntable to choose either the two or four minute stylus. My "F" is my go to machine. The "S" reproducer has very good volume and plays well.

Brad Abell
Stan F 1.jpg

Stan F 2.jpgStan F 3.jpgStan F 4.jpgStan F 5.jpg

It's beautiful! My mistake I said O instead of S (don't know why?), the one for sale comes with an S reproducer but no horn - so I guess I would need a cygnet if the person is willing to ship to France. It's under 700 USD not sure it's a good price or not.

[outune]

First- Thanks Chuck-- You're right- The Home "F" is 4 min-- as is the Standard "E"... What a difference a letter makes

Regarding the price of the other Standard "F" with "S" reproducer the OP is looking at. It's hard to give any real thoughts without seeing it-- But-- my general thought would be...

No Horn-- If the bedplate striping is very nice--- If the case finish is in good shape and it retains it's original decal-- If the machine has been cleaned, adjusted and lubricated-- and, If the "S" reproducer plays well, then I don't think it's out of line. The "F" is a relatively hard model to find. A nice "S" reproducer usually runs around $300 by itself. So if the machine is really nice, I don't think its a "bargain", but it isn't crazy money either.

Is it drilled for a cygnet bracket? If so, by the time you add a cygnet horn and a crane, you're adding another $400 or so.
Just my thoughts-

Brad Abell

[Aristophane]

First- Thanks Chuck-- You're right- The Home "F" is 4 min-- as is the Standard "E"... What a difference a letter makes

Regarding the price of the other Standard "F" with "S" reproducer the OP is looking at. It's hard to give any real thoughts without seeing it-- But-- my general thought would be...

No Horn-- If the bedplate striping is very nice--- If the case finish is in good shape and it retains it's original decal-- If the machine has been cleaned, adjusted and lubricated-- and, If the "S" reproducer plays well, then I don't think it's out of line. The "F" is a relatively hard model to find. A nice "S" reproducer usually runs around $300 by itself. So if the machine is really nice, I don't think its a "bargain", but it isn't crazy money either.

Is it drilled for a cygnet bracket? If so, by the time you add a cygnet horn and a crane, you're adding another $400 or so.
Just my thoughts-

Brad Abell

Thank you very much for this information. Here are the photos of the F. After that, the website where it is located (I don't know if I can post the link) has not responded to my email regarding possible shipping to France.

[outune]

Thanks for posting pictures-- Looks like it could use a good cleaning, but overall appears to be in nice shape-- It should clean up well with minimal work. It looks like the mandrel bearing was replaced with a newer brass sleeve bearing- That's a good thing-- These later machines had a pot metal sleeve that swells up and prevents the mandrel from turning-- Many, if not most, need that bearing replaced, so you'd be ahead of the game on that one.

My main question would be on the condition of the reproducer- The "S" (and "R") reproducers are tough to rebuild because the upper housing is pot metal. They are difficult, if not nearly impossible, to get apart-- Sometimes attempts to disassemble them results in breaking the top housing. I read a Forum post awhile back where someone quoted Steve Medved (the Edison reproducer guru from Florida) He was quoted as saying that if an "S" sounds pretty good, leave it alone, rather than risk breaking the housing.
**So... I would question the seller on how good the reproducer sounds on both 2 and 4 minute records- Perhaps have him send a video of the machine playing. I wouldn't consider the price being asked as a "fixer upper" price. The reproducer is the main concern-- If that isn't working well, then the expense to replace it could be quite high.

Hope this helps .
Brad Abell

[Aristophane]

Thanks for posting pictures-- Looks like it could use a good cleaning, but overall appears to be in nice shape-- It should clean up well with minimal work. It looks like the mandrel bearing was replaced with a newer brass sleeve bearing- That's a good thing-- These later machines had a pot metal sleeve that swells up and prevents the mandrel from turning-- Many, if not most, need that bearing replaced, so you'd be ahead of the game on that one.

My main question would be on the condition of the reproducer- The "S" (and "R") reproducers are tough to rebuild because the upper housing is pot metal. They are difficult, if not nearly impossible, to get apart-- Sometimes attempts to disassemble them results in breaking the top housing. I read a Forum post awhile back where someone quoted Steve Medved (the Edison reproducer guru from Florida) He was quoted as saying that if an "S" sounds pretty good, leave it alone, rather than risk breaking the housing.
**So... I would question the seller on how good the reproducer sounds on both 2 and 4 minute records- Perhaps have him send a video of the machine playing. I wouldn't consider the price being asked as a "fixer upper" price. The reproducer is the main concern-- If that isn't working well, then the expense to replace it could be quite high.

Hope this helps .
Brad Abell

Thank you for the feedback!

Good to know about the brass bushing; that’s one less thing to worry about. Your point on the 'S' and 'R' reproducers is critical—I wasn't aware of the risk of the housing snapping.

I'm going to ask the seller for a video of it playing both 2 and 4-minute records—assuming they actually get back to me. If the sound isn't right or if I don't get clear proof, I’ll either lower my offer or just walk away. I'm actually starting to think I might be better off sticking with a phono that has a more common and less temperamental reproducer.

Thanks again