The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As I said previously, the long play Edison records are rare. Probably the only place you will find them is in rare record auctions, national phonograph meets, or possibly on Ebay. I purchased a 12" and a 10" Edison LP record in excellent plus (never played) condition a year ago for far more than you paid for your 1C! I also paid a lot for a mint gold LP reproducer still in the wooden cradle and wrappers. Now I'm looking for an Long Play machine. I'm anxious to play mine, but people tell me I should never play near mint LP records. Playing them can damage the grooves they say and that would depreciate them rapidly. The records are worth more than the machine to Edison and record collectors. It's hard to say what an Edison Long Play console is worth since they don't sell that often and are not hot with most collectors. I've seen Edison LP consoles for sale a couple of times at phonograph shows; Union and CAPS and the asking prices were about $300. But I don't think they sold.

I should say here that some of the posts put up before you added pictures are confusing your 1C Long Play Edison (1926) with the super rare and super valuable 1928 C1 Edison radio/phonograph. The C1 and the C2 could play both Diamond Discs and regular lateral 78s with an electronic amplifier as well as AM radio. The C1 is so rare only about five exist and is worth many thousands of dollars. So to repeat you have a 1C Long Play, not a C1 Edison.

Thanks, I am new to Edison machines. It plays very loud and all the Cylinders are a colbalt blue.

My Cabinet has a tag that says 1C although I see there are other models with the C before the one. Mine is just a Disk Phonograph that has a long and short play setting.

You're fortunate that both of the very fragile grilles on your 1C have survived intact. They were easily damaged. I have an Edison 3C that I purchased about 15 years ago. I offered (and kept my word by paying the offer amount on arrival) a premium price for it without seeing it in person. There was no Long Play reproducer with it but the Edisonic and regular DD reproducers were present. The grille had been replaced and none of the original fretwork remained. I was told by the owner (by telephone) that everything was original and complete. The owner also told me that there were 2 big boxes of Edison records that would go with it. I made a generous offer that was accepted and went to pick it up. On arrival I noticed the replaced grille immediately and missing long play reproducer. Recognizing that this was a very late Edison phonograph I had presumed that most of the Edison records would be the desirable late issue titles (high 51000 series through 52000 series) and my offer was based on this. Wrong. Most of the Edison records were in bad condition and very few were late issues. I kept my word and paid up but the machine still sits in the garage awaiting an original grille.

By the way, Harvey is correct about the Amberola pictured. It appears to be an Amberola model DX. It's definitely not an Amberola 30 - which is good for you as the model DX is much less common and has the nicely designed Fireside motor. There is one thing odd in the picture. There is what looks like a pair of tall thumbscrews that are seen in the front of the motor bedplate. Those were not original equipment with the model DX Amberola (or model X with its incredibly weak Gem motor).

You did extremely well with both. So, did you also receive some of the later Edison Diamond Discs with the 1C?

Doug

Looks as if you have an Oro-Tone attachment, sold as an 'extra' by the Edison dealer. I wonder how often the dealers had "throw in" one of these, to make the sale.

There appear to be a few jazz records, and a lecture. I see one of the comments was that there is not much interest in the 1C long play units and they did not sell at an antique show for even $300. I of course would keep mine and not sell for $300 it is a great conversation piece and I have all three nickle plated heads and no missing wood on the cabinet and the unit works great. I was hoping it would be worth more so I could replace mine with the regular Edison disk player (since I don't plan to purchase any Long Disks, although my son found me one) and make some cash. I have been playing Edison records in my office all week.

The Edison Cylinder player came with 5 cylinders. One is a comical one titled " I laugh at the wrong times". Everyone who visits my office are fascinated by the two machines. I am a pastor and I have done my office in an early 1900s style just for fun. A great ice-breaker and conversation getter.

"It is either an X or a DX. You got a good deal on these machines."

I agree as well. The machine is NOT an Amberola 30, As the last poster said, You have either an Amberola X or a DX machine, and NOT an Amberola 30.

Either way, You got a Stellar deal on both machines I estimate their value at - $400-$500 for the X and DX machine, and About $300-$350 for the 1C...though the 1C is pretty rare, I don't think the market has really set a price for it yet.

)

Tony K. - Edison Collector

I'd disagree with the value assessment on the 1C long play console given in a previous posting.

The LP gearing is readily adaptable to many other Edison phonographs, and the original printed installation instructions for making that conversion are readily available as a reprint, and very well-written. I know, because I've done it, and it was not very difficult - and super fun.

Whenever an LP conversion kit (with at least the LP gearing and LP reproducer, and sometimes more, such at the matching standard reproducer and the dual reproducer storage bracket) comes up on ebay, it will bring at least $350...but they don't come up that often. The LP reproducer alone, with a good stylus, is a rare thing and should fetch good money.

The records turn up. I've managed to find several over the years at reasonable prices. Playing a 12" LP Diamond Disc is a unique experience.

The market is weird, for sure, but given the condition (including the fragile sawdust-and-glue grill moldings) and completeness of your 1C on top of its rarity, I'd put $750 on it.