Original Record Storage Albums for the Edison Amberola III

[Wagnerian]

If you could find anyone clever enough to reproduce them, please count me in as a customer too.

Tim W-W

[Garret]

Bruce,

That is an incredible setup. Thank you very much for sharing!

Garret

[marcapra]

What George said made a lot of sense about the album colors. I wonder if the albums were standard or optional. Probably optional as they are so rare! I have only seen one other collector who has Edison cylinder albums.

[epigramophone]

What George said made a lot of sense about the album colors. I wonder if the albums were standard or optional. Probably optional as they are so rare! I have only seen one other collector who has Edison cylinder albums.

According to the Frow book the albums cost $2 each, a small extra price to pay on a $125 machine.

[Yamaphone]

I see that a good number of people would like to obtain the special record albums that fit the Amberola III (also Amberola IV) and thought I might be able to help. I also have an Amberola III and would love to have the set of albums myself. For about 12 years, I had a business making similar wooden cases mostly to hold precision measuring instruments and still have the shop and equipment for making them. The photos show my Amberola III and also a cylinder case that I designed and made. Around 2007 I made a number of these and had them for sale at the Wayne and Danbury Phonograph shows. (Because of a rather complex design, the price was higher than people wanted to pay so I gave up making these and now use the unsold cases for my records.) Though my cases weren't covered with material, I don't think it would be difficult to do if a sample could be followed.
I did a little research concerning imitation leather and other material and have found that some minimum quantities would have to be bought. As these albums would be made in limited numbers, I think they would cost between $75.00 - $100.00 per album. I haven't looked into having the lettering hot stamped in gold yet.
This might be a unique opportunity to get these made due to the possibility of obtaining a sample of an original.
I would be interested to find out if the collectors who expressed interest in these albums feel it would be worthwhile to pursue this project further.

Dan Zalewski (Yamaphone)

[Wagnerian]

Dear Dan,

Thank you for your offer. If these could be made to look like the original albums and you would be prepared to ship to the UK, then I would be definitely interested.

All the best

Tim W-W

[phonogfp]

If the boxes can be made to look like the originals, dimensionally (with no interior dividers), and visually (covered in similar material and lettered/striped as original), I too would be interested at $75-$100 per box. I imagine most any collector with an Amberola III would be willing to invest $225-$300 for a set of these. The only caveat would be that they be excellent reproductions of the originals.

Thanks Dan!

George P.

[barnettrp21122]

If the boxes can be made to look like the originals, dimensionally (with no interior dividers), and visually (covered in similar material and lettered/striped as original), I too would be interested at $75-$100 per box. I imagine most any collector with an Amberola III would be willing to invest $225-$300 for a set of these. The only caveat would be that they be excellent reproductions of the originals.

Thanks Dan!


George P.

Ditto for me! Thanks!
Bob

[phonogfp]

Well,here's some good news...

The cylinder record albums were announced in the January 1913 issue of The Edison Phonograph Monthly (page 11). They're not described in detail beyond specifying that "The albums are especially designed for the Amberola III. Three of them, each holding 30 cylinders, can be placed on each machine." Dealer cost was $1.50 and retail was $2.00. (Dan, can you make them a little closer to that price? )

In July 1913, the albums were illustrated and described:

"These albums are decidedly ornamental in appearance and offer the best possible substitute for a large wooden cabinet. They will contain 24 Records, opening conveniently on the broad side. If your customer has an Amberola III, he can use three of these albums which will fit exactly on the lower shelf."

I can't explain the reference to 24 records.

"The albums have considerable decorative value, being finished in black cloth and imitation Russian leather, with gilt lettering. Size, 16" x 11 ¾" x 6 ½"."

So these albums in black would be historically accurate.

In Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks, we show an Amberola IV on page 126 with its albums - which are brown. It may be that the brown albums were made available for the Amberola IV (and possibly oak version of the III as well). In any event, reproduction albums made in black would be perfectly suitable for an Amberola III.
I also noticed that Bruce's albums say "Records" rather than "Edison Records." Is it possible that these were manufactured and sold by another company for use with the III and IV?

I will add a scan of the July article and illustration below. Note that the illustration shows a SINGLE album. Each album was made to resemble two books on a shelf.

Best to all,

George P.

[Valecnik]

Lots of good dialogue here although I don't see a completely clear path to a good "re-creation" of the originals so far.

If collectively we can figure this out, I'd be in the market for a couple sets myself and as mentioned, would be willing loan one of the originals for copying.

A few additional thoughts:

George I wonder if the boxes might have been designed to accommodate 24 wax or 30 BA cylinders? EPM makes does make specific reference to the benefits of storing wax cylinders.

The ones I have, the subject of the thread are clearly of a different design than those pictured in the EPM article or on page 126 of your book George. Any explanation for that? Perhaps a third party offering? It would seem unlikely but