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If you have a Spring Motor bottom = 16.5" X 10 ¼" with a 16" tall cover that fits perfectly on that base, then you could come to the conclusion that it may have left the factory that way! The motor is a later style Triton motor with cylindrical governor weights and steel gears which is what was used in the Concert.


I'm still having a difficult time with the filigree differences and the fact that Serial # 3 did have matching filigree. I have never seen a Concert with non matching filigree and that filigree being anything other than the pattern you have on the upper bed plate. It's also apparent that many things were modified/swapped at one time. One of the owners made an amateurish repair to the carriage which in fact is a late Spring Motor carriage and a 2/4 minute mandrel kit was added.

Did this machine come with a reproducer?

The round metal plate with holes is the right side spring barrel cover plate for a Triton motor. It looks from your pictures that it may be missing from your motor. See pic attached

It's a very interesting machine. I have seen many examples of early Edison machines being modified for the newer upgrades and bubba (amateurish) modifications. My Concert came with an extra 2/4 minute mandrel and factory flat carriage for the Model O or Diamond B reproducer. See pic attached.

Hi Steve,

In the second of the original pictures I posted. You'll notice that the cover for the spring barrel is present. The guy I bought it from (the son-in-law of the person who originally had it) said he'd was going to do some work on it, not sure if that's what he'd done to the carriage and motor.

I've seen machines including a Class M with non matching pen stripe that had apparently always been like that.
I wonder if the fact in was sold as an Edison-Bell influenced this...


Cheers,
Mario

PS. It came with a model H and about 100 Amberol Records

Hi Mario,

My Concert has serial # of 132 and motor number 4524. The machine you have has late serial # but early motor # This might explain why the bedplate doesn't match upper work.

Mario,
Does the cover fit on the base?

A side by side comparison with my Edison 5" Concert case so here it gets interesting....

Points:

1. The lids are the same length
2. The lids are not the same width
3. The lids are the same height
4. The case body is essentially the same but the base board is wider on the Edison Concert
5. The lid appear to be similar to a Spring Motor BUT the lower most moulding is extra, and it in fact look similar to the upper moulding.
6. The moulding that would be the lower moulding on a SM lid is lacking the hole where the latch would have gone if it left the factory as a SM.

I placed my 5" concert works into the case of the Edison Bell and the lid covered the machine. Whilst it is difficult to tell for certain what took place 115 odd years ago... I think that these clues lead to a good case for the machine having left the factory as a 5" machine on s SM base. Again not sure how to be 100% certain.

Warm Regards,
Mario

This lid looks to have a wood grain painted finish. Any thoughts about this.

Larry Crandell

Phonolair wrote:This lid looks to have a wood grain painted finish. Any thoughts about this.

Larry Crandell

It does look faux painted..... I still am not convinced its a factory job. I would still restore it and keep it as is. It's very unique with the modifications.

It could have been a traveling demonstration machine as what many Concerts were used for. The demonstrator may have wanted a smaller package to travel with.

Some of the missing veneer on the lid is patched with tin and faux painted.
This seems to have also been applied to some of the other veneer.
Mario