Edison Standard (A_B_C_D?) did it have a crane?

[snallast]

I bought this standard the other day in an auction, it seems to have been sleeping for the last 100 yrs or so, the grease is all hard and it moves just barely... anyway, the parts are all there, but (I've searched the forum - to no avail!!}I wonder, ¿did it originally have a crane? The horn has a fitting for one - but the phonograph does´nt - still it looks like the right horn for this machine...?

It looks like the horn would weigh down the pickup-part and the friction would be too much (the motor has one spring only)?

Anyone out there know??

[52089]

That's a Standard A. You can tell by the case size and the fact that the speed control is above the bedplate.

That horn could have been used on that machine, typically with a front mount crane. The most common type of these cranes had a "foot" that went under the front of the case and a support bracket that went in between the top molding and the case body. A bar with an angle bend went through the support bracket and rested in the "foot". A chain at the end of the bar was connected to the link on the horn and supported it. The narrow end of the horn was connected to the reproducer using a rubber tube.

Here's an example:
http://www.icollector.com/Edison-Standa ... E_i8652960

There are many other types of cranes that could be used too.

[De Soto Frank]

Very nice machine ! Condition looks very nice indeed !

[Fonotone]

A few words of caution: You don't want to mount a morning glory horn without a crane, like you've done in your photograph, even briefly. The neck of the reproducer was not designed to support the weight of such a large horn, and by forcing it to support the horn, you run the risk of snapping off the neck of the reproducer.

[mf77]

Your Model A Standard originally came with a 14" witches hat horn.
Your 8 panel horn, which I don't believe was even available when the Model A series was manufactured, was meant to be used with the smaller "Gem" models and the later "Fireside".
You could get a 10 panel horn to upgrade the Standard's horn, and it was supplied with a front mount crane as described above. Aftermarket horns by numerous manufacturers were also available for most phonographs, and the cranes used to support them were often clamped to the cabinet (but not always), or used a table or floor stand so the phonograph cabinet didn't have to be altered or damaged in any way.
Below are several examples of horns & cranes that could be used with your model, the first picture showing the 14" horn your phonograph would have originally been supplied with.

[Jerry B.]

The Edison company was really late to offer horns larger than 10" cone horns for the Gem and 14" horns for the larger models. That's probably why we have such a wonderful variety of after market horns today. When Edison finally offered more horn options, it was during the "B" models. As was mentioned in a prior post, your machine is a Standard Model A. It was sold with a little 14" horn. It is very possible that your machine had an after market crane and horn and it's also possible that the owner wanted to keep his machine current by buying the Edison morning glory horn when they were available a few years later. I would look for blemishes or slight alterations in the cabinet which may give you a clue to what type of crane, if any, was used. Jerry

[Andersun]

The banner model A often had a crane with the crane brackets mounted on the backside of the case. If your machine has no screw holes in it, it never had a crane unless a floor crane was used.

[phonogfp]

The banner model A often had a crane with the crane brackets mounted on the backside of the case. If your machine has no screw holes in it, it never had a crane unless a floor crane was used.

Actually, a Hawthorne & Sheble crane or any of the Tea Tray Company under-the-cabinet cranes could have been used, and none of these require screws in the cabinet.

George P.

[Andersun]

Actually, a Hawthorne & Sheble crane or any of the Tea Tray Company under-the-cabinet cranes could have been used, and none of these require screws in the cabinet.

George P.

Of all of the original sourced Banner A Standards I have retrieved my years of collecting, none had the under the cabinet mounted cranes on them. I thought those style cranes came out after the Standard Model A was obsoleted. I first started seeing them on the Model B Standard and Homes.

Of course this is just an observation.

[phonogfp]

Of all of the original sourced Banner A Standards I have retrieved my years of collecting, none had the under the cabinet mounted cranes on them. I thought those style cranes came out after the Standard Model A was obsoleted. I first started seeing them on the Model B Standard and Homes.

Of course this is just an observation.

I agree that the Tea Tray cranes with their under-the-cabinet bases are more likely to be found on Model B and C machines. I've only found a couple of Model A machines with them, but I've found many with Hawthorne & Sheble cranes - particularly the common No.5.

George P.