The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

KCW wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 8:03 am Fascinating photos. Looks like some brown wax cylinders in that case as well. What was the cost? It couldn’t have been too cheap. Great photos!

She was asking $500, and that is what I paid. I sent her a full priced offer. She told me that a number of others that were trying to get it for a lot less. I knew that the Model O reproducer and crank were worth her asking price, so I made the commitment based on the pictures. I don’t try to get something for less than the asking price if it is already a very good deal. I feel a bit guilty now about getting everything for $500. I’m glad that nobody got it for less. She was a nice lady and she was happy that it was going to a collector, rather than a reseller.

There were four brown wax cylinders. Two are blanks and the others are home recordings from a New Years Eve gathering, (there was an old typed note describing the gathering). I have sorted through the cylinders and many are damaged, but there are quite a few that are in decent condition, including a Christmas song. The old stagecoach trunk is in decent shape as well.

Thank you everyone for your comments, information and advice. It will probably remain a period converted machine. It should clean up nicely and it functions now. The Model O reproducer in in great condition. There are no holes in the cabinet for a crane, so I think that they probably used a floor crane. My plan is to make a nice table crane for it.

Put the brown wax cylinders somewhere safe. WOW!

You made out really well. The home recording is in my opinion the real jewel. I absolutely love these little slices of life from all those years ago. They are priceless, but it is a little sad that no one in that family wanted to keep it. Imagine a home recording of your own family from 100 years ago!

Could we persuade you to post a video of the machine playing the New Year’s Eve home recording along with the typed note? These things fascinate me to no end. What an amazing find!

KCW wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 2:53 pm
Could we persuade you to post a video of the machine playing the New Year’s Eve home recording along with the typed note?

A Model O Reproducer - especially if it's the round-weight version - is not a good choice for brown wax.

George P.

Perhaps you could play it in another machine? Would love to hear that home recording. I posted one I found on eBay a few months back.

phonogfp wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 4:15 pm

KCW wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 2:53 pm
Could we persuade you to post a video of the machine playing the New Year’s Eve home recording along with the typed note?

A Model O Reproducer - especially if it's the round-weight version - is not a good choice for brown wax.

George P.

Always good advice. I was going to listen to them on one of my Columbia AT machines.

Django wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 5:45 pm I was going to listen to them on one of my Columbia AT machines.

That would be a good choice. Before playing those cylinders, I recommend carefully wiping off the grunge with an old T-shirt, terry towel, or other all-cotton material.

I'd be interested in learning the date of that New Year's Eve record.

George P.

Wow! Like George, I'm very curious of the New Year's eve recording. How nice!

Fran

Would love to hear it as well and find out what year. For my brown wax find I took a video of the phonograph playing with my cell phone and then posted it. The audio wasn’t too bad! Give it a try!

phonogfp wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 9:06 pm

Django wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 5:45 pm I was going to listen to them on one of my Columbia AT machines.

That would be a good choice. Before playing those cylinders, I recommend carefully wiping off the grunge with an old T-shirt, terry towel, or other all-cotton material.

I'd be interested in learning the date of that New Year's Eve record.

George P.

I will try to record it. I have a good, stereo microphone for recording my guitar, but I only want to play it once, so I will have to experiment with my setup first. I haven’t made any cylinder recordings. I’m a little busy at the moment, but I will try to do something before the weekend. I hope that it’s not a disappointment.

This whole purchase has been pretty interesting for me. The horn had a number of seem separations,(one that was full length and about ⅛” wide in the middle), but no splits or real damage. It’s coming along well. I am using Titebond Wood Glue, (no epoxy). If it is good enough for the Martin Guitar Company, then it’s good enough for me.