The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In USA, $600 is way too much I think. You should be able to get a nice A or B or D Standard for a couple hundred dollars less.
I've got a Model B, and while it's good for what it is, I very seldom use it. The early models will JUST make it through a 2 min cylinder, and anything less than an 8 panel horn, & it's like listening to a pocket transistor radio.
I think you'll be far happier with a fireside or Standards performance, both of which have springs powerful enough to play 4 min records. If you can manage to get a Home with an 11 panel horn, you'll have a machine that is a joy to listen to, and they are powerful enough (just) to get a half decent recording if you choice to venture into home recording in the future.

gramophoneshane, I believe the 11-panel cygnet horns were originally meant for Edison Triumphs, besides being more expensive now than the 10-panel horns. The sound from either one is great however. I much prefer them to regular morninglory horns. I also generally prefer the Edison Home over the other models.

I think Shane was talking about a Home having a 11 panel straight horn while the Standard had a 10 panel straight horn. It gets confusing because both the Standard and Home and Fireside used a 10 panel cygnet. Jerry

I was thanks Jerry.
I was actually going to write straight horn but didn't.
I also sometimes tend to forget that in USA, a Home would have a 10 panel cygnet horn, because here in Australia, all models used the 11 panel cygnet, and they were even available in a variety of colours- from the factory.
I'm not sure why, but the 10 panel cygnet horn was never available here.
Still, personally I would prefer an 11 panel straight horn over the 10 panel cygnet on a Home anyway, even though they take up more space, because the sound quality is just that little bit better.

I actually use a 12 panel Triumph horn on my Home, even though it's incorrect. I got an 11 panel cygnet for my Standard, because that's correct for Australia, and have a 10 panel straight horn on my Gem!
While many purists will be shaking their heads, at least I can say they all sound great
To be honest, I don't know how anyone could stand listening to a Gem with a 10" cone horn for more than 2 or 3 records.
Bigger is better in my books, and while some might disagree, I still think a 12 panel straight horn sounds better than an 11 panel cynget

gramophoneshane - the Gem actually sounds much worse with the little horn that was included with the unit than a pocket transistor radio. The larger horn that came with the 2/4 maroon Gem did help a little but Gem machines I think were made for the low budget crowd. They were dependable machines though, look how many Gems have survived? Yet collectors ask way too much money for a rather common blahh looking machine. Not one of my Gems plays perfectly, they all slow down near the end of the record, they all sound like little transistor radios, they all have speed control quirks, yet I love these little Edison machines. They are so darn cute