The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I agree that the internet is a great tool for finding information and machines. I am surprised to see that I am not the youngest member of this board! I am 30 years old and have been collecting for 3 years now. I was not even aware of cylinder phonographs when I started, I knew of Victors from books growing up, although everything was referred to as a "Victrola" regardless of what it was, which is one of the first lessons I learned. While researching my disc phonograph, I came across cylinder phonographs on Ebay and was instantly interested in acquiring one. I watched dozens sell on Ebay to get an idea of the market value, and wound up getting an Edison Fireside Model B off of Craigslist in California with original Edison Blue flowered horn that was sold with the Edison Standard E and to buyers of the Fireside Model B that paid extra to get the bigger horn. At first I was told multiple times that this was not the correct horn for this model as most came with the Gem/fireside horn or the Cygnet horn, but after a few months of research was able to determine that the owner (he was 90 years old and it was his uncle's since new) did indeed buy it new at the same time as the Fireside.

by the way, off topic, did anyone else chuckle at Kurt Nauck's choice of cover photo on this month's catalogue? "When a coon sits on the presidential chair". Not exactly P.C.

edison phonographs wrote:by the way, off topic, did anyone else chuckle at Kurt Nauck's choice of cover photo on this month's catalogue? "When a coon sits on the presidential chair". Not exactly P.C.

Minimum bid $5K. Now that's what I call a stimulus package! LOL! I wonder what the minimum bid would have been had the election turned out differently -- would copies of 'Silver Threads Among The Gold' have gone through the roof? 'December and May'? Perhaps 'Under The Anheuser Busch'?

I am not sure what magazine you are talking about as I am new. But I have a copy of "When A Coon Sits On The Presidential Chair". I picked it up in a box of cylinders about a week ago and thought it was interesting. Is it rare. I showed my wife when I looked at it as I thought it was interesting. Did I find a good one?

SonnyPhono wrote:I am not sure what magazine you are talking about as I am new. But I have a copy of "When A Coon Sits On The Presidential Chair". I picked it up in a box of cylinders about a week ago and thought it was interesting. Is it rare. I showed my wife when I looked at it as I thought it was interesting. Did I find a good one?

Not a magazine, but a catalogue. Kurt Nauck runs Nauck's Vintage Records in Spring, Texas, and has a twice-annual auction of vintage records and other associated ephemera.

The picture is on the cover of the catalogue of the latest auction, VRA 46. See it at http://www.78rpm.com.

SonnyPhono wrote:I am not sure what magazine you are talking about as I am new. But I have a copy of "When A Coon Sits On The Presidential Chair". I picked it up in a box of cylinders about a week ago and thought it was interesting. Is it rare. I showed my wife when I looked at it as I thought it was interesting. Did I find a good one?

The copy in the Naucktion is an Edison 'Concert' cylinder with OBL and slip. However, the value of your copy probably ain't anything to shake a stick at right now. Does your new arrival's college fund need a little boost?

Actually, her college fund could always use a boost! I didn't know it was anything special, but definitely interesting. I will probably have to sell it. As you mentioned, John, I have more important things in my life at the moment to plan for.

Also, I need some help with something. In the box of cylinders that I picked up were 8 brown wax cylinders. Only a couple have numbers scratched around the rim. Does anyone know where I could reference these numbers online to find out what I have? I tried the Cylinder Preservation website and there weren't any results. They were in Columbia cylinder boxes, but I'm not sure if they are Columbias or Edisons as both kinds were in some of the boxes. Here is a picture of them. Any ideas?

Have you listened to them? There is a good chance that they are announced. Use a proper reproducer -- not a Model H or O!!!

I haven't listened to them. Unfortunately I am in the process of rebuilding my Model C reproducer and because of that, I can't listen to them. With the new addition to the family, I am not sure when I will get it playing again. I have many Columbia black was cylinders too that I would like to get more info on. Is there an online reference anywhere? If not, any recommendations on a book or catalog?

Sonny,

Check your PM's

!