The Edison Gem

[briankeith]

I love that repro alum. horn I bought at Wayne, it looks just like the originals on the French Pathé cylinder machines, or at least very close to them, very good quality indeed, well made... And I can't wait to see your web site and get a glass horn or three, or more! BK

[Lenoirstreetguy]

A Gem makes a nice display piece, as you folks have pointed out. Here is Edison's daughter Madeline ( Mrs. John Sloane) in her living room in 1970 with a Gem used as a display piece. I wonder if the talking doll was hers from her childhood. This is taken from an interview published in The Hillandale News.

Jim

[victrolacollector1]

I can totally agree with this one about the high prices on GEM's. I have always wanted one, but not for the price and their cheaper quality. I have seen one guy around here display a descent one for $ 700.00 without the horn. I have invested in Columbia B and Q for the cheaper model portables. But maybe the GEMS are just really scarce.

[briankeith]

Scarce? No, unless you have the dark maroon model. There are thousands of black Gems out there, both key and crank wind. Yet I agree with other posters that a really clean Gem with a nice paneled horn and support crane makes for a really nice display piece. Plus like the smaller Columbia models such as the "Q" etc, they can fit easily on a bookshelf, unlike the larger Edison Homes, Firesides, and such.

[phonogfp]

Even the maroon Gems (Models D and E) aren't really hard to find. Most any phonograph show will have at least one for sale. Of course, the matching maroon horn in nice condition is another matter...!

George P.

[1923VictorFan]

I'm one of those people who has thought "off & on" about trying to buy a completely average, black, Edison Gem for exactly the same reasons already given...they are compact in size and look really cool. They appear frequently on eBay but always end-up selling for more than I can afford.

I'd really like to know a reasonable high & low price range for an average, fairly clean, fully functional black Gem with a reproduction horn. I can't afford to spend more than $400. Am I just expecting too much or should $400
be enough for a run-of-the-mill example?Thanks guys!

[Andersun]

Even the maroon Gems (Models D and E) aren't really hard to find.

George,
I have to disagree about the Model E. They rarely show up anywhere -- even on Ebay. My observation is most of the rarer machine collectors who have a Model D, don't have a Model E.


OK George fess up...do you know of a private stash of Model Es? hmmm the plot is thickening.......

[briankeith]

My personnal opinion on the "average" Black Gem as far as what I would pay for one in 2011: Working well with a decent C reproducer, most of the gold strips still intact, good but maybe dirty bedplate, decent but maybe needing very minor repairs to the oak case, original Edison decal, (not the banner decal) reproduction horn, and an original edison crank or key, I would pay between $400.00 - $450.00 tops. But that's just me, and I've been to alot of shows in the past 20 plus years.

[phonogfp]

Even the maroon Gems (Models D and E) aren't really hard to find.

George,
I have to disagree about the Model E. They rarely show up anywhere -- even on Ebay. My observation is most of the rarer machine collectors who have a Model D, don't have a Model E.


OK George fess up...do you know of a private stash of Model Es? hmmm the plot is thickening.......

Granted - I misspoke ("miswrote?") when I specified by what I meant by a maroon Gem (Models D and E"). The E is certainly hard to find, but the D is not. I should have qualified that!

...And yes, I have a stash of Model Es - all of them in their original unopened crates. I'm waiting to unload them when the time is right... And I can also set you up with a nice bridge...!

George P.

[briankeith]

How much for the bridge?