Edison Columbia hybrid on eBay

[Mr Grumpy]

Here's another one (or the same one with a different horn) on the nipperhead site --> http://www.nipperhead.com/old/museum3.htm

Are Nipperhead and TF the same person?

[Phonolair]

At first glance the back bracket and tone arm look like a Columbia client setup with the unmarked reproducer. But look closer the outer rim of the reproducer is ribbed or grooved. And the back bracket mount at the case is a slip in two piece design, very unusual.

Best Regards, Larry

[De Soto Frank]

Here's another one (or the same one with a different horn) on the nipperhead site --> http://www.nipperhead.com/old/museum3.htm

Are Nipperhead and TF the same person?

Taking that "Museum Tour", and reading the introductory blurb, the writer describes it as residing "in a barn in the woods
near suburban Philadelphia".


Given the magnitude of the collection, and some of the rarities therein, somebody here at TMF must know at the least the ID of the Collection / Collector...

[edisonplayer]

I saw on Facebook what appears to me a Victor and someone put an Edison decal on the front.Sounds like a Crapophone to me! edisonplayer

[TinfoilPhono]

The collection on Nipperhead was Dave Heitz's. One of the greatest guys ever. Sadly he died in 2004. His entire collection was sold that year.

He had an "Edison Graphophone" and displayed it next to an original handbill promoting it. I don't know if the one on eBay came from Dave's collection or not. I need to dig through my old pictures to see if I can find one of his to compare to the eBay machine.

It is legitimate in the sense that it is not a modern creation, but obviously someone back in the day was trading on the Edison name. If you look through the various Fabrizio/Paul books you'll see other examples of machines bearing Edison's name, including a Type K Graphophone (if I remember correctly) and a Columbia AS coin-op.

If I had room to spare I wouldn't mind having that Edison Graphophone myself. An interesting bit of history.

[TinfoilPhono]

Here are pictures of the one Dave Heitz owned, along with the handbill he framed next to it.

[Phonolair]

From a close up of the front decal it looks like the same machine. But someone has switched horns and taken the turntable trim ring.

Best Regards, Larry

[TinfoilPhono]

You're right. The wood grain and flaws on the case and decal are exact matches.

[Lucius1958]

Assuming that this machine is a "genuine forgery" from the late 1900s, it is not surprising that only this example would be left. Both Edison and Columbia's lawyers would have been down on them like - well, odor on ordure - the moment they got wind of it.

The exhibition poster, however, is somewhat odd: one would think the era of the public exhibitors was past by this date...

Bill

[stevel]

The exhibition poster, however, is somewhat odd: one would think the era of the public exhibitors was past by this date...

Bill

I'd have thought it would also tell you where you have to go to see the spectacle....

Steve