The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

phonogfp wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:58 pm A very nice example of an earlier Edison Spring Motor!

It's difficult to date these as specifically as the Gems, Standards, and Homes, but yours can be dated with confidence to 1897; probably the latter half. Your machine's motor should have spherical governor weights and spoked gears - signs of the U.S. Phonograph Company motor.

Thanks for posting!

George P.

Merci George

Aristophane wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 6:44 am

Andersun wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:37 pm That's a beauty! Has an Emerson clip on it too. What's all in the drawer? I see a screw driver....

Thanks, not sure what is an Emerson clip? There are 3 screw driver in the drawer. Not sure about the paper because it's a bit worn. I will look at it and let you know

The Emerson clip is the "question mark" shaped clip that retains the reproducer. I believe it's the far less common style.

You're welcome!

I happen to own Spring Motor #24319 - - just 101 machines after yours.

George P.

phonogfp wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:10 am You're welcome!

I happen to own Spring Motor #24319 - - just 101 machines after yours.

George P.

Mine is 24380. Maybe yours and mine knew each other at the factory

Welcome to the forum! That's a beautiful machine--thanks for sharing it, and congratulations on becoming its proud owner!

Thanks, too, for your kind offer of information about French machines. Although several European members here have generously shared valuable insights and experience over the years, information about the French side of Pathé is not easy to find on this side of the Atlantic, and I'll hope we can all learn more from someone in the company's home territory.

JerryVan wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 9:14 am Mine is 24380. Maybe yours and mine knew each other at the factory

Maybe, but the Spring Motor was a slow-moving machine at that time. Selling 60 of them may have taken a couple of months!

George P.

An Emerson clip is a device that makes it easy to take off and replace reproducers. The factory used brackets with 4 screws to hold the reproducer on. Your clip is missing a small piece that acts as a stop when rotating the clip. The United States Phonograph Company used them and stamped their name on them. See pictures provided.....

Andersun wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 4:32 pm An Emerson clip is a device that makes it easy to take off and replace reproducers. The factory used brackets with 4 screws to hold the reproducer on. Your clip is missing a small piece that acts as a stop when rotating the clip. The United States Phonograph Company used them and stamped their name on them. See pictures provided.....

The factory clips are installed 180 degrees out of phase in that photo. The flat spots are the stops for when rotating a Standard speaker between record and playback mode. You can see the correct orientation in the attached pics (though this is an Automatic, not a Standard Speaker). Up position for playback, down position for record.

Learn something every day! I always wondered how one would be able to position a Standard Speaker for record and playback mode. Has anyone ever tried it out?

I have never owned a Spring Motor, so I am not familiar with them. I appreciate the detailed photos and I find the different reproducer clamping methods especially interesting. Excellent find.