Re: Gem C education please
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2016 7:12 pm
I'd hesitate to call it rare, but it is certainly not common.
When the 4 minute Amberols were put on the market Edison offered kits to convert older machines to 2&4 minute. That program included the Gem. However the Gem mainspring is very hard pressed to make it through 4 minutes running time so converted early Gems are much scarcer than Standards, Homes, and Triumphs.
The Gem kit is also just a bit more awkward to use than those on larger machines.
When the 4 minute Amberols were put on the market Edison offered kits to convert older machines to 2&4 minute. That program included the Gem. However the Gem mainspring is very hard pressed to make it through 4 minutes running time so converted early Gems are much scarcer than Standards, Homes, and Triumphs.
The Gem kit is also just a bit more awkward to use than those on larger machines.