The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Neat! I hope you keep us "in the loop" with your revitalization.

Best,
Fran

Here are some of the pictures of the A-250. All of the serial #'s match, I'm just not sure what the writing on the inside of the cabinet means. The only cleaning I've done is some lemon oil on the wood. The cabinet has been restored back to a similar color, but you can see the difference from the insider drawers. The drawers look like a higher gloss shellac was used. Did they have a mute ball on the earlier models? I also received a union reproducer, key and I believe a light bulb box? Any and all comments are appreciated.

This thread talks about the volume control variation.
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =2&t=18840

Is there a date on the bottom of that tag on the back door?

I notice the turntable is nickel not gold. Is this normal for the early A-250? I have one of about the same age with a nickel turntable, but I recently bought a later one that had a a gold turntable.

rizbone wrote:I notice the turntable is nickel not gold. Is this normal for the early A-250? I have one of about the same age with a nickel turntable, but I recently bought a later one that had a a gold turntable.

This is also mentioned in the thread referenced above. The one posted here is certainly correct because it has the serial no. penciled on the bottom. I've also seen other A250s with correct gold wash and nickeled platters. Seems to have been somewhat random.

I do not see a # on the back door but did notice the # 1920 on the horn coupler. I have been reading through as many of the posts that I can find on this sight, that's how I knew to look for the # on various parts, but I'm deducing there is no definitive confirmation on if some where shipped without the volume control, though it seems to be true. I also thought I read only 10,000 of these where made, but I am seeing higher #'s in my searches. Here are the pics of the Union reproducer and light bulb box. Inside the light bulb box I also have an odd looking diaphragm? I am thinking it's the back stop, sans rubber bumper, for the back door access panel. The side you can't see is rounded and yes that is hole, maybe a needles cup holder? Any ideas?

That "light bulb box" is actually the box that the Edison Diamond Disc reproducer was originally packed in. I understand those were discontinued early on, and they are today sought after by collectors.

Yes that makes sense. I actually tried putting the Union in the box then it hit me, why would a Union go in an Edison box. It still never dawned on me to try the dd repro.

]So, if anyone was interested in one of the 78 Attachments with the original felt sound control mechanism for and Edison machine shown in this string, give me a should at [email protected]. They were made by "Union" and are called the Union number two. The one I have available is nickel plated, and complete with the correct original Union reproducer. Pictures and details available upon request. Shawn

which I found in this thread

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3045&p=14026&hilit=frow#p14026

I found I have the Union No.1 Pat'd Dec 6, 1904 which is inscribed below the knob which has the felt damper on it. The DD's reproducer's # is 8887 as far as I can make out (or they could be 3's) Anyway, in case anyone was interested.