Valecnik wrote:
Steve, first question I have is why on earth would you choose just one??? But if you have to, there are a few considerations.
That's a great question Valecnik. I think my best answer why only one machine is because I don't have a website to store the machines on and it would have to share what little room is left in my house with all my old fans and 20s radios plus the 7 cats. But seriously, I don't often stop at one or a few as I get more interested in a collectible and gain more knowledge. You here have surely added to my knowledge and caused my mouth to water onto my keyboard.
How could I find a Diamond Disc machine as wonderful as these posted here. I'm particularly smitten with the oak beauty of the fully adorned machine of tarheeltinkerer which I don't suppose he would want to sell??
And your Edisons Valecnik I would have trouble getting them back from the Czech Republic. OK, I cheated and happened to your website last night and see that most of your machines are here in the USA. Very enjoyable website and photos.
My research so far has been on this website and in Frow's Diamond Disc book which I am studying to see what machines make me drool. So far my favorites would be the A-B-C 250 and the A-B 150 with a C-19 in addition but I do like the earlier etched black data plate as well as the drawer record storage so I think I will look for one of the Chippendales with a drawer. The W-series is a bit heavy and conservative for my desires and I wouldn't search for one but probably wouldn't turn a nice one down either.
You mention about the A machines having a different, earlier mechanism and possibly not of the same duribility(?) but I haven't seen one yet (other than many decades ago in Arthur Wilmoth's extensive collection in San Francisco-he was one of the first real collectors that I had met along with Al Sefl.) The A and B-200 Queen Anne also looks nice. I do like the heavier molded top and other more substantial cabinet features of the aforementioned models in place of the lighter and simpler looking construction of the lesser models.
I do like rarity in a machine but would usually choose a nice original machine that pleased my eye over a rare machine that didn't please to the same extent or was not in great original condition. And, yes, "visually attractive" is very important to me. At this point it looks like the most likely to end up living with me would be an A or B series and 150 or 250 model. Now just to find a nice one, preferable in oak with a nicely decorated bedplate.
If you want a good runner that sounds great, the B & C series with the Standard Disc Mechanism are the best choices. B250, C250, C19, W250, W19, and others are all readily available, have the largest double spring motor and the largest horn. B250, C250 and C19 have the most record storage of any of the models. The A250 can have alot of record storage but some of them have wooden slots between each record, like mine, which makes the storage drawers unusable unless you want to slide nice un-jackeded records between bare pieces of wood. Among these, I think the W250 and W19 probably sound a little fuller because of the very large grill area in front of the horn.
I guess the best sounding would be the Edisonics of 1926 and on but they are not as visually attractive imho.
"Just some thoughts, probably controversial..."
And I thank you for your thoughts Valecnik.
If there are any phonograph collectors in the San Francisco area who would want to offer a tour and chat about their collection I would be most appreciative. I've probably been through around 100 nice machines when I collected in the 1960s until I sold most of the collection in the 1980s and have done nothing with phonographs since then. It would be nice to reacquaint myself with the machines and people of the hobby.
