The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks for the heads up on the Lyric Reproducers folks. I’ll remember that when I get mine sent for rebuild (whenever that day comes.)

I agree with Mike B. I love my Fireside A with cygnet horn and K reproducer, and I won't sell it.

I really do like my combo BKT. This is one of my old YouTube videos, so please excuse the quality.

https://youtu.be/iDVOmba8kAo

It came originally with a two minute lyric reproducer and door knob stylus. I was fortunate to find the combination lyric with the stepped dual stylus. But that really didn’t perform well so I replaced the combo stylus bar with a four minute Edison H stylus bar. Of course it’s not authentic but it now play’s celluloid cylinders extremely well. And nobody’s making replica Columbia stepped styluses.

Years ago I had a Fireside B with a Diamond B. Nice machine with a cygnet horn. But as we know we can’t keep them all and selling off phonographs helps fund new purchases. The BKT to me was the more unique machine and represents Columbia quirkiness, especially adapting their disc machine tone arms to cylinder phonographs. Also you don’t have to bother with fussy cygnet crane. For the record I do have a nice Edison Home model B with 2/4 minute conversion, cygnet Music Master, Diamond B. So I’ve got choices for cylinder playback. I mostly have two & four minute celluloid records.

Glenn

That's awesome.

I personally think the BKT machines look a lot nicer than the Firesides--and I say that as someone who really loves the look of the Fireside machine.

Anyway we'll see. I would have to find a project at a good price.

Once the converted Home B is ready to go I won't have to worry for an Edison combination machine, but it's all a toss-up-- what to actually hang onto.

That BKT in the video looked fantastic with the nickeled horn on it.

The BKT in the video was found by me complete with that nickel plated horn, in an out of the way antique mall in Baraboo Wisconsin. This was back in 1998 and we were coming back from the Iola Car show. I was driving my 1995 Saturn station wagon crammed with car items, mostly stuff for my friends 1956 Chevrolet 210 sedan. I remember distinctly kneeling on the floor of a booth going through a box of late 1920’s dime store Banners when something shiny caught my eye. Of course it was the Columbia BKT.

One credit card purchase and we later spent a half hour repacking the Saturn wagon to get everything to fit. Sometimes it’s the stories behind our acquisitions that seem make them more endearing. That day I wasn’t really looking for a BKT. Sometimes they do actually fall into our laps.

Glenn

I have a BKT 2/4 and an fireside with cygnet (K reproducer). I will mirror what has been said, I play that fireside all the time and the BKT occasionally. I wouldnt get rid of either one, I love the look of the BKT. (sorry for the sideways pic)