Another what the heck is this thing?

[briankeith]

Really nice quality pieces this guy builds, even if he is in a "grey area" as you stated. I love this rotary spark gap with the Edison motor. Most of these motors I have seen are painted a black wrinkle finish, this one looks great in chrome/nickel or whatever it is. I wonder how this thing actually works?

[Uncle Vanya]

These motors were nickle plated until the late 1930's. In fact most of the black finished motors of this design that I've seen were nickled under the crinkle paint, and came out of remanufactured Ediphones.

[briankeith]

Well I for one really enjoys the look of this device - it seems like a great piece to place along side a vast collection of Thomas A. Edison phonographs and related Edison stuff. I would love to see this thing in action! I'm sure not many were actually made (?)

[Uncle Vanya]

This ONE.

It is a pretty good home-brew, but probably not of the period, dating, I suspect, to the 'eighties.