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Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 12:49 pm
by gramophone-georg
hearsedriver wrote:Wow! That is incredible! I love it! Congrats!
First thing I thought of was that this would make one hell of a nice recording console for a certain hearsedriver we know...
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 1:04 pm
by gramophone-georg
NEFaurora wrote:It looks to me like a BABSON BROS.(Chicago) Period "CONVERSION" Kit unit. Babson sold quite a few of these I think. I've seen others that have Hinged Case Covers and usually use the EDISON MODEL "B" HOME units, but very few that use the EDISON MODEL "B" Standards...at many Phonograph shows. I'll see if I can pull some old show pictures for examples. This particular unit utilizes an Edison Model "B" Standard Phonograph which is what is pictured. The Edison Model "B" Standard Phonograph in this unit has the later optional 2 minute/4 Minute Combination gearing which was added later to this phonograph. A Sweet find! The entire unit is definitely ALL PERIOD CORRECT. Not sure about the Wheel Casters though...I would need to see some closer pics of the Wheel Casters to make a better determination. At first, I thought that this may have been a "Homemade" unit, but one look at the Glass casing using the actual "Tiger OAK" wood on the casing made me think otherwise. Your average Joe way back then would have just used regular Pine most likely..
A NICE FIND! Clean it up (just dust it and use something like Murphy's Oil or even Lemon Pledge, and leave all the metal Patina'd and leave it completely as-is!!!!! I be proud to have this one in my collection... You should be proud of your find...as its a good one. I would say Just the Phonograph machine and outer casing alone is about $700.00... Add the Period correct Brass Horn, and Period Correct Crane, and you're talking about another $550-$600. I would say its all better as one unit which would probably fetch $1200 to $1300 or more I figure all together...Just a Guess...The nice Horn cover is a nice added bonus.. The Regular Black horn is tough to tell. I would like to see more close up pics of the Black Horn to see if its original...
How much did you pay for this wonderful find??!???
)
Tony K.
Edison Collector/Restorer
I think I'll do more than this. I'm not going to go all crazy on it, though. I plan to deep clean the bedplate and shine it up. I'm going to just freehand- touch the small spots where the striping is worn. The machine plays well but it's filthy.
I absolutely need to remove one of the top pieces and re-glue it to the other to fix the crack. That bothers me. Then, I'll likely re-flow the top finish and get rid if the alligatoring. I may re-spray in a satin shellac but I won't make that determination till I've saved the original finish. I'll shine up both horns. They may even go to Ripduf1.
The horn bag is pretty much a total loss due to age, but we have gotten a definitive answer as to what it's made of and what it's lined with. I'll keep the original bag intact (such as it is)with the machine but my wife thinks she can figure out a pattern from it to sew up a new one.
Some 0000 steel wool will likely clean the crane and crank right up.
I really wish this had found someone way more "into" cylinder machines than I am but we'll see what magic I can do with it.
How much did I pay? $800. I did the math, too, and figured that if I needed to part it out I could recover at least that. Then there are the cylinders.
I'll post horn and caster pics shortly.
I didn't realize that what I titled the pics as would show up on here. Hope it didn't offend anyone- it's tongue in cheek. I have such a massive photo file that I have to come up with unique names so I know what I am attaching sometimes.
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:09 pm
by gramophone-georg
Here are close- ups of the caster wheels and witch's hat. the caster wheels are turned from a solid piece of Tiger Oak!
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:35 pm
by gramophone-georg
Regarding the Ashland, Ohio connection... there was the Stratford Phonograph Co. Wonder if this cabinet might have anything to do with them?
http://presto.arcade-museum.com/PRESTO- ... 774-25.pdf
1920 is a little late in the game but wonder if they were sort of a Babson outfit before that.
Just a thought.
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:16 pm
by gramophone-georg
Just for fun, I'm going to post pics of the first machine I got from this seller a few years back. There is an entire manila envelope of ephemera that came with it along with about 100 cylinders. The paperwork includes, if memory serves, the paperwork from the sale of the original Amberola 30 in 1917, purchased from Babson while the buyer lived on a rural route in Missouri somewhere. The owner obviously kept all the sales brochures and Edison record lists that Babson regularly sent him.
I don't think the cabinet is Babson, though, because again, while very nicely done, it's not a product I can identify anywhere.
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:58 pm
by hearsedriver
gramophone-georg wrote:hearsedriver wrote:Wow! That is incredible! I love it! Congrats!
First thing I thought of was that this would make one hell of a nice recording console for a certain hearsedriver we know...
I totally agree George! I would happily accept it as a donation to the cause
!
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:00 am
by gramophone-georg
hearsedriver wrote:gramophone-georg wrote:hearsedriver wrote:Wow! That is incredible! I love it! Congrats!
First thing I thought of was that this would make one hell of a nice recording console for a certain hearsedriver we know...
I totally agree George! I would happily accept it as a donation to the cause
!
Sure, just pay a small shipping and handling fee...
Re: OK... So What Do I Have/ Not Have Here?
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:27 am
by hearsedriver
I totally agree George! I would happily accept it as a donation to the cause
![/quote]
Sure, just pay a small shipping and handling fee...
[/quote]
Haha. Good one G!