Class M Restoration

[Andersun]

I am 99% certain that this Class M came out of a Keller Coin Op Phonograph! After spending many hours looking through patent drawings, I found Albert Keller's coin op patent drawings and came up with an excellent match. I found exacting and similar parts to which were with my Class M. See the drawing with my parts superimposed on it.

Keller patents can be found here:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=MSpmAA ... &q&f=false

http://www.google.com/patents?id=MCpmAA ... &q&f=false

[phonogfp]

Steve, I think you're on to something!

George P.

[gramophoneshane]

Glad to see you've found some info that identifies those two pieces to a coin-op machine. When I mentioned it in your original thread, it was the only thing that made sense to me. At least the patent drawings will give you some idea what the other parts were like. I dont suppose they'd be the sort of parts that most people would have floating around in their spare parts piles, but you never know your luck!
It might even be possible to have the missing parts remade by a competent machinist. It sure would be a lot easier to have original parts to measure & copy though.

Are any examples of the Albert Keller coin op's known to survive?

No doubt it would be a very expensive & time consuming project to undertake, and even if a cabinet had to be reproduced, (which I guess would probably be the case), it would be very worthwhile from a historical aspect IMO, & an extremely cool addition to anyones collection.
I think the only thing more awesome than owning a Class M, would be owning an Albert Keller coin-op Class M

[Andersun]

What threw me off was the oak base it was attached to. The base has a square key that you turn that releases the whole phonograph case and oak base from the cabinet it is in (more like a dictation table). I thought that only the Class M mechanisms would be utilized in a coin op to save space. Keller must have used the whole machine with case. It probably explains why the drawers are missing and that USA and Canada plate on the back side.

[phonogfp]

I've seen a couple of Keller machines, but I don't recall the use of the stock Class M cabinet within the larger one.

Here's a photo of one that appeared in The Talking Machine Compendium, published in 1997.

George P.

[Starkton]

It is just amazing that you could identify those mechanical parts plowing through piles of patent drawings. Well done!

The Automatic Phonograph Exhibition Co., to whom Keller had assigned his patent, was long bankrupt when this phonograph left the factory after April 1893. Is it known who exploited "homeless" patents and manufactured coin-slot machines during the mid-1890s?

[Andersun]

Just an update on the Class M......

The motor and power supply are finished and will be delivered late February. I left that up to an expert to do. The case is also in the hands of a expert wood worker who is going to fit new drawers and fix the left side. Attached are pictures of the motor and power supply which is mounted on the bottom of an Edison railroad battery lid. I just need to find a porcelain jar for it. I was told that the motor runs excellent!

Thanks!
Steve

[TinfoilPhono]

Battery jars turn up on eBay fairly often. A very, very nice one just sold last week for $40 -- a great deal, usually they run closer to $100. Most that I've seen on eBay are empty but that's fine if you're setting up a power converter as you obviously are. It's easy to use modern hardware to simulate the external appearance.

You need one of the non-embossed jars with name and patent date fired into the lid, either 1883 or 1890 patent. The embossed "ESCO" type are much later.

Here's one I made to power my Class M and Edison fans:



I ran the power line into the hole on the back of the hump; obviously this isn't correct for a battery but it's reasonably discreet, and of course you need to power it somehow. I didn't want to attempt drilling into the porcelain jar. With a transformer and bridge rectifier I get 4.5V DC output. Technically, this isn't wired authentically. The knurled nuts at left and right originally held the hanging zinc plate and were electrically linked; the bolt on the hump supported the copper electrode. So as originally configured it should be wired with one output wire attached to either side bolt and the other wire to the center. But for display purposes, this setup looks more attractive.

If you really want to do it right you need a wooden box with a set of 4 cells, either Type S or Type V. But they are very rare. Here's a Type S:




(Edit for spelling.)

[Andersun]

Rene,
Great information and pictures! That is what I plan my end result will look like. Doubt I will ever get the wood box!

Thanks,
Steve

[Andersun]

The motor and upper/lower bed plate are together and unit is working very smooth and quiet. Case is having drawers fitted and will be completed in a few weeks.