The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thanks for the photo of the small original machine. It shows the difference in detail that is the downfall of the machine in question. As soon as I saw those saw cut edges showing on the corners or the grill made so it is part of the front, it sent up flags. It just didn't have the polish that even a simple piece of wood work would have had 100 years ago.

larry

Now remember, it's possible that the machine in question was not originally like the picture I posted- Sears sold many Silvertone models over many years and I don't have access to the catalogs.

Can you open up the cabinet to have a look inside? While some people can and do fake original pieces, very few take the time to "antique" the inside of a fake cabinet or, for that matter, "restore" the inside of an original. Looking inside will either show 100 years worth of oil drips and aged wood color or immaculately clean new wood with some yellow Elmers wood glue showing at the joints.

JerryVan wrote:Can you open up the cabinet to have a look inside? While some people can and do fake original pieces, very few take the time to "antique" the inside of a fake cabinet or, for that matter, "restore" the inside of an original. Looking inside will either show 100 years worth of oil drips and aged wood color or immaculately clean new wood with some yellow Elmers wood glue showing at the joints.

Jerry,

Take a look at the pictures posted on the ebay listing (link near the top of this thread). The last picture shows the inside which does show some age. It could have been faked, but if were, I would expect the outside to have been fake as well. My conclusion is that at least the base is old, and has been heavily refinished.

I would be interested in others opinion based upon that last photo.

Based on that I'm leaning towards the cabinet having some original material heavily refinished, and possibly a replaced top. I'm still not too certain about the turntable and motor- it looks to be pressed steel and I'd expect cast iron.

Also the EBay seller (woodguy) claims he does not have a crank for this Silvertone. That's very unusual as he states the machine runs fine, but how does one know what crank fits this macghine, or if the shaft of the motor is not damaged in a way that a crank will not attach to the machine? Sivertone talking machines came with a lot of different motors I assume? So? Something about this cute little machine is very fishy to this collector!! Brian

Photo showing the bottomless - bottom!!! Thoughts?

Could that front panel be a replacement? I've seen a lot of table top Silvertones with damaged or missing grilles- the laminated oak seems particularly prone to falling apart, possibly poor quality stock at the factory.

In any case aren't we dissecting this poor thing to pieces and making a mountain out of a molehill?

Earlier this year, on this forum, was a thread about machines with Arts & Crafts aspects. This machine lends itself to that decor. I thought I saw this same style before. I was wrong, here is a variation of it...



James.

For those that get the CAPS publication, The Sound Box, check out the little machine on the back cover of the June issue. It looks quite similar to the machine featured in this topic. Jerry Blais