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My first talking machine and i think i made a mistake
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mynewtalkingmachine
- Victor Jr
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2013 10:23 pm
My first talking machine and i think i made a mistake
Ill be honest , you guys know your stuff. Unfortunately i dont think i did my homework well enough because i just bought what was listed as a 1912 standard talking machine. It works great and seems to be in awesome condition (from what i know of ... well nothing lol) i also received a whole box of records to go with it ... i love it and its a great discussion piece, but did i get ripped off and how much is it worth.. . ive scoured the internet and i just cant seem to find that much information. PLEASE HELP!
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De Soto Frank
- Victor V
- Posts: 2687
- Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:27 pm
- Location: Northeast Pennsylvania
Re: My first talking machine and i think i made a mistake
Welcome, MNTM ! 
This is a great place to come to for info on talking machines !
If you get a chance, please post some pictures of your new machine - pictures are worth thousands of words !
Also please share model-numbers / serial numbers, and detail photos of any labels or decals on the machine.
Standard Talking Machines were made by Columbia (Graphophone / Graphonola), and a generelly okay machines, if somewhat primitive when compared to their contemporaries...
This is a great place to come to for info on talking machines !
If you get a chance, please post some pictures of your new machine - pictures are worth thousands of words !
Also please share model-numbers / serial numbers, and detail photos of any labels or decals on the machine.
Standard Talking Machines were made by Columbia (Graphophone / Graphonola), and a generelly okay machines, if somewhat primitive when compared to their contemporaries...
De Soto Frank
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Lucius1958
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4066
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:17 am
- Location: Where there's "hamburger ALL OVER the highway"...
Re: My first talking machine and i think i made a mistake
Is it an outside horn machine? If so, it's probably a Model A. These are fairly common, but can be enjoyable if you restore them properly.
Now, if the spindle hasn't been modified, you won't be able to play regular 78s on it: Standards were originally made with a 9/16" spindle, so that the owner had to buy Standard records.(These records are not extremely rare,though. And there are records with even larger spindle holes - early Harmony, United, and Aretino - which can be played on a Standard with a suitable adapter). However, later owners sometimes replaced the spindle with one of 'normal' size; this may make the machine not quite 'authentic', but at least it is something you can enjoy.
There have been a few people (we will not mention names) who have drilled out the holes on regular 78s to fit Standard machines......... this is generally frowned upon.
As for being 'ripped off': it depends on how much you paid for the machine. Standards are attractive, but they are not as 'desirable' as outside horn Victors or the better class of Columbias...
Bill
Now, if the spindle hasn't been modified, you won't be able to play regular 78s on it: Standards were originally made with a 9/16" spindle, so that the owner had to buy Standard records.(These records are not extremely rare,though. And there are records with even larger spindle holes - early Harmony, United, and Aretino - which can be played on a Standard with a suitable adapter). However, later owners sometimes replaced the spindle with one of 'normal' size; this may make the machine not quite 'authentic', but at least it is something you can enjoy.
There have been a few people (we will not mention names) who have drilled out the holes on regular 78s to fit Standard machines......... this is generally frowned upon.
As for being 'ripped off': it depends on how much you paid for the machine. Standards are attractive, but they are not as 'desirable' as outside horn Victors or the better class of Columbias...
Bill