The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I wanted an HMV 194 for years after hearing one in a deal gone bad when I was in college. I was so fortunate to be able to finally get one through a contact made on this forum. All that is left for me is an HMV 202 or 203 if the opportunity would present itself. Right now, my top wants are getting the Expert Senior and Minor fixed up and playing. Making progress...slowly!

Garret

Amberola wrote:

PHONOMIKE wrote:The top of my list is a Victrola XX. I have some cash set aside if I ever come across one but I've only seen pictures and never an actual one.

Mike

I know where 2 of them are. I bought them years ago. Can check to see if they are for sell?

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I recognize that XX in the center... and am mildly appalled by the floral arrangement on the lid. eldridge johnson's likely rolling in the grave.

clevelander wrote: I have a Standard squarebox No 489 which does not have a gearcover as I would expect.
Yours, No 283 does have one. I have seen machines in the four thousands without the cover. Whilst I can understand machines closely numbered not being a straight changeover from without to with, does anyone have an explanation for the sheer randomness?

I may be wrong but I find it hard to believe that the Edison factory would randomly put the covers on some and not on others. I bet that it was the dealers that installed them on older units after Edison made the change either by customer request or the dealer had leftover stock of the old style after the new style came out so they had to retrofit them on. Drilling and tapping two holes would be very easy.

Andersun wrote:

clevelander wrote: I have a Standard squarebox No 489 which does not have a gearcover as I would expect.
Yours, No 283 does have one. I have seen machines in the four thousands without the cover. Whilst I can understand machines closely numbered not being a straight changeover from without to with, does anyone have an explanation for the sheer randomness?

I may be wrong but I find it hard to believe that the Edison factory would randomly put the covers on some and not on others. I bet that it was the dealers that installed them on older units after Edison made the change either by customer request or the dealer had leftover stock of the old style after the new style came out so they had to retrofit them on. Drilling and tapping two holes would be very easy.

That would certainly be a logical explanation.

I just bought this HMV102 portable from a fellow collector here at the forum; this phonograph had been at the top of my wants list for some time.

I found a real nice Edison GEM Model E. It has been on my list ever since Fabrizio and Paul's Compendium came out.

Finding a 205 was a dream come true for me. However, I would now like to have a 207. That would be the icing on the cake for me...

Andersun wrote:

clevelander wrote: I have a Standard squarebox No 489 which does not have a gearcover as I would expect.
Yours, No 283 does have one. I have seen machines in the four thousands without the cover. Whilst I can understand machines closely numbered not being a straight changeover from without to with, does anyone have an explanation for the sheer randomness?

I may be wrong but I find it hard to believe that the Edison factory would randomly put the covers on some and not on others. I bet that it was the dealers that installed them on older units after Edison made the change either by customer request or the dealer had leftover stock of the old style after the new style came out so they had to retrofit them on. Drilling and tapping two holes would be very easy.

That seemed to be common at the Edison Factory. One of my other Standard Suitcase 2-clip machines Serial #S3152 does not have a gear cover or screw holes in the bedplate for the cover. I've seen a lot of the early 2-clip machines with and without gear covers, mainly in the lower number range. Last year I sold an Edison Home Model-B that had a Triumph ID Tag on it with a serial number that was correct for a Home machine but far over the highest Triumph serial number.

Rich Gordon

I'm still looking for / hoping for a correct flat-crank for my Columbia "Imperial" BJ Disc Graphophone...

rgordon939 wrote: That seemed to be common at the Edison Factory. One of my other Standard Suitcase 2-clip machines Serial #S3152 does not have a gear cover or screw holes in the bedplate for the cover. I've seen a lot of the early 2-clip machines with and without gear covers, mainly in the lower number range. Last year I sold an Edison Home Model-B that had a Triumph ID Tag on it with a serial number that was correct for a Home machine but far over the highest Triumph serial number.

Rich Gordon

I have now lost all confidence in TE! Thanks for the info.