The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

fran604g wrote:What primarily concerns me is the possibility of good machines being destroyed forever.

Outside of legitimately damaged ones being cut up or even parted out, there's little any of us can do to change that, or arguably should. Parts used to preserve other machines is certainly a noble consideration.

After those two considerations my concern then becomes one of misrepresentation to the unwary, at which time I think the right thing to do is openly expose such.

Fran

We all seem to assume this stuff was done yesterday. I think most of these cut-downs were done many years ago when furniture styles changed. Take for instance the Orthophonics with chopped off spindle legs. However, the recent craze of "repurposing" has taken its toll on lots of antiques!

bigshot wrote:How do they sound? I am more interested in music than machines.

I've seen a few A 100s that have been cut down, and I'm fairly confident that this model should sound fine only missing the turned legs below the bottom of the horn compartment.

That being said, as long as the entire horn compartment is intact and complete as it should be, I don't see any reason the Phonograph shouldn't perform fine, provided it isn't mechanically damaged or altered in some way.

I would never buy something this modified without examining and hearing it first in person though, just as a precaution.

I've said it before, I like how the A 100 looks without the legs, and think it would have been a nice tabletop if Edison had actually produced it that way...which of course it never was.

Fran

JerryVan wrote:

fran604g wrote:What primarily concerns me is the possibility of good machines being destroyed forever.

Outside of legitimately damaged ones being cut up or even parted out, there's little any of us can do to change that, or arguably should. Parts used to preserve other machines is certainly a noble consideration.

After those two considerations my concern then becomes one of misrepresentation to the unwary, at which time I think the right thing to do is openly expose such.

Fran

We all seem to assume this stuff was done yesterday. I think most of these cut-downs were done many years ago when furniture styles changed. Take for instance the Orthophonics with chopped off spindle legs. However, the recent craze of "repurposing" has taken its toll on lots of antiques!

I'm sure there's validity in your statement, I have had more than a few antique tables and pre 30's radio cabinets that had their legs cut down long before I came across them.

People were very frugle during and just after the great depression...at least in my family.

Fran