The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Yes, a dictation control. When the record is playing, pressing the right side of the lever on the bracket lifts the curved nickel support in the center to raise it, thereby pushing up the carriage off the record while keeping it in position. This allowed a typist to stop the record briefly without shutting off the machine or having to manipulate the main lift lever. Once she got caught up she could simply press the lever again to lower the reproducer and continue.

By the same token, someone making a dictation recording could lift up the carriage while considering his next words, then lower it in the exact same spot when he was ready to go on.

This bracket lost its utility when Class Ms were converted primarily to entertainment use so they are usually missing.

Now that is a beautiful Class M.