The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Andersun wrote: Both the "North American Phonograph Company" and the Edison signature logo are unusual. Even the strait pin stripe with no filigree on the corners is unusual. I was suspecting that it might not be original.

Ditto, Steve. I've never seen that "North American Phonograph Company" stencil. It looks convincing in the photos, but I'm highly suspicious of it. Likewise, the trademark Edison signature didn't appear on production Phonographs until December 1897. North American went into receivership in August 1894 so there's a three-year anachronism: highly suspect. Clearly, someone has dolled up this bedplate, as seen in the amateurish pinstripe. It still appears to be a solid machine and eminently restorable.

George P.

Edison did use the signature trademark at the end of 1897 but he didn't file for trademark protection until 1900.

The trademark was renewed in later years but was left to expire in 1986. It's wide open today. LINK

Here they are... Along with a pic of the underside and the mysterious "22" stamped under where the upper works usually are.

I did find these from a familiar and noteworthy foreign site (watermarked into the pics) one has faded to simple striping, another no plates.

I believe your lower bedplate was redone at some point in time. The pinstripe is not very uniform and the Edison signature looks amateurish and it's location leaves a huge question mark. The edge of the bedplate looks sloppy (see pic). All of the Edison bedplates I have seen are finished much nicer with the edge being strait. Also the finish is full of bumps which could mean that the bedplate was stripped and just painted over instead of a base coating to smooth out the casting roughness.

The no nameplate could mean it was a later Class M. They were in the catalogs up to 1909 according to Sefl and Frow's book. The Class M concerts that I have seen didn't have nameplates either. (including the two pics above).

The number 22 on the bedplate is another interesting feature that I overlooked....

It it were me, I would clean it up and leave it exactly how it is. It has an old look to it. If you had the lower bedplate redone, it would look too new compared to the upper bedplate.

Any way you go on it, you will enjoy the machine and it's restoration! My Class M runs perfect every time and is my main player for guests. It is nice and quiet mechanically and is a wonder to watch it's operation. Even little children who don't seem to care about things like that have a stare of amazement!

I hit resend by mistake so to use this area up I will attach a pic of my Class M.

TinfoilPhono wrote:Edison did use the signature trademark at the end of 1897 but he didn't file for trademark protection until 1900.

The trademark was renewed in later years but was left to expire in 1986. It's wide open today. LINK

It is curious that the signature on the machine posted does not correspond in detail with either the 1897-1907 version or the post-1907 version. The cross bar on the T is similar to the late decal; but neither decal displays the loop on the "d"...

Bill

Because the signature was skillfully applied freehand with a paint pen. I've seen this before as well.

Right. It's fairly close, or at least better than some attempts I've seen, but it's distinctly 'off' if you look at it closely and compare to a real one.

Interesting about the Original Trademark Paperwork above. Look how Edison's real signature in the upper lower right of the page of the 4 people that signed differs from the actual trademark signature. The "A" and the "E" are very different. Very interesting!

That is definately Edison's real signature in the upper lower right of the page. No doubt.

)

Tony K.