Featured Phonograph No. 83 - Amberola 1A Serial no. 403

[Valecnik]

Make: Edison of course
Model: Amberola 1A
Serial #: 403
Year(s) Made: 1909 - 1911
Original Cost: $200
Case/Cabinet Size: everybody knows
Reproducer/Sound-Box:Originally with L or M. This one's been refitted with a Diamond B
Motor: Double Spring
Reproduction Parts: none
Current Value: in this market, who knows
Favorite Characteristics: For me it's the "industrial build of the works.

Okay,we've all seen beautiful examples, or at least pictures of of the Amberola 1A, some stunning ones posted right on this forum. However this one has a couple of particular characteristics I've not seen before, both visible in the photos. Rather than my pointing you to them, you guys figure it out!

PS: as many of you know, if you click on any photo, it doubles or triples in size and if you click again, you get incredibly detailed photos that load so you can examine details, thanks to the technical sophistication of this forum.

[estott]

Handsome machine in fumed oak. An interesting mix of antique copper and gold fittings. The crank appears VERY strange.

[Andersun]

Valecnik,

Love that machine. Curved crank, a knob doohicky on the left side above the motor bed plate support strut, and double lid supports. (like dual exhausts on a car!)

What is that knob (front left) for? Does it release the lid support?

Steve

[VintageTechnologies]

The 1A that I once owned had flaking maroon enamel and remnants of pin striping. The paint on yours looks to be in pretty good condition, but I wonder why there is no pin striping?

[Jerry B.]

Gun metal decks are frequently found on oak machines and I don't think they were striped. Jerry

[Valecnik]

Handsome machine in fumed oak. An interesting mix of antique copper and gold fittings. The crank appears VERY strange.

Valecnik,

Love that machine. Curved crank, a knob doohicky on the left side above the motor bed plate support strut, and double lid supports. (like dual exhausts on a car!)

What is that knob (front left) for? Does it release the lid support?

Steve

You guys are sharp! The crank looks to be original and when you pull the "knob dookicky" on the left side, it trips the lid support on the left side and the lid is slowly lowered by the threaded lid support mechanism on the right side... so the lid slowly lowers like it would on an othophonic victrola 15 or so years later.

[phonogfp]

That's a beauty all right! I'd love to know the origin of the lid closing mechanism.

I cannot figure out why the crank is shaped like that!

Thanks for posting - -

George P.

[Andersun]

Valecnik,

What is the screw for? and also, what is this button shaped thing for.....

[Valecnik]

Valecnik,

What is the screw for? and also, what is this button shaped thing for.....

The way that the trip mechanism works is that the horizontal bar hooks behind the left lid support and trips it when you pull the vertical spiraled rod towards you. The “button” on the vertical spiraled rod actually is threaded through the vertical spiraled rod and passes into (or through, I can’t recall) the horizontal bar. The vertical spiraled rod pivots off from a threaded bold a bit further below.

The “button” visible on the right side of the case passes through the case and the threaded wheel turns on it, as the teeth on the right lid support go over it.

Not sure whether that’s what you were asking though…

[Valecnik]

Gun metal decks are frequently found on oak machines and I don't think they were striped. Jerry

I think almost all the oak 1As had gun metal decks with no pinstriping although I know of legitimate examples of Oak 1A's with maroon, pinstriped bedplates, (i.e. matching numbers)

That's a beauty all right! I'd love to know the origin of the lid closing mechanism.

I cannot figure out why the crank is shaped like that!

Thanks for posting - -

George P.

I was hoping that posting this might trigger someone to produce some paper on the on the lid closing mechanism. Also, I wonder if it's related to the crank, i.e. sold as a package to "ergonomically wind your phono and lower the lid" or something like that??? The crank works fine that way but honestly I see no technical advantage at all.