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Looks like the ear piece is French....

The "Maison de La Bonne Presse" was a religious publishing house which became a purveyor of various talking machines. The earpiece may not have been sold with this Class M.

George P.

Looks like you've got the top of a Standard Speaker, upside down because it's been re-purposed as an Automatic. I can't explain technically the difference without having one in my hands. Phonospud or Paul B could elaborate. The "NL" above the serial no is for North American Lippencott which would place it among the earlier ones, upgraded a bit over time.

First of all, many thanks to everyone for helping me date the CLASS M, which I recently obtained, correctly.
I have wanted a CLASS M for years. Unfortunately the prices are very high. I live in a small town near Barcelona (Spain). Therefore, if I buy from the US, the appropriate taxes must be added to the price. In Europe, this machine is currently not found. A friend died years ago. He had a very large collection of phonographs. His wife wanted it preserved. Unfortunately he died a year ago. His two children are not interested in the collection and want to get rid of it. A mutual friend, also a collector, offered me the CLASS M, at a very reasonable price. I asked him about one he left and he told me that he certainly doesn't know. But it is possible that it came from Spain and specifically from Barcelona. That's all there is to it.

When Pathé began "manufacturing" and selling phonographs, they played a bit fast & loose with other people's intellectual property. There were a few very close copies of Graphophones, and on a very early catalogue was a drawing of a class M. Maybe someone with greater insight into the start of Pathé knows more.

The person helping Pathé maximize profits and manufacturing machines was a man by the name of Kumberg. I thought of him because of the K prefix.

Hugens y Acosta in Madrid sold the Class M, electric and spring motor, also the Home, the Gem and other models, as advertised in their 1900 catalogue. They also sold Bettini attachments for all them, etc. Same for Blas Cuesta in Valencia, 1899, si this model of Ferran could have been sold in Barcelona, where there also were other Phonograph dealers (Puig, for an early one).
See
https://mdc.csuc.cat/digital/collection ... fic/id/257
also
https://mdc.csuc.cat/digital/collection ... fic/id/256

Ferran ~

I am extremely certain that your machine has the top works from an Edison Kinetoscope. Find in the photo below a Kinetoscope top works fitted to a home....

The similarities:

1. Serial number. This machine is marked K795

2. End gate configuration.

3. No pulley lugs.

4. Additional lug on the knife edge from it's previous form.... a Spectacle style phonograph.

5. The "Edison" lettering matches the stenciling on this machine almost perfectly. I imagine the owner may have removed the references to Kinetoscope. The "Edison" is in a slightly different location which I can not explain....

The carriage on your machine is different than a Kinetoscope would have had. The top works in my photo retains its original carriage. But the one on your machine is typical of any Class M, and much easier to use.

Aaron

That is awesome, Aaron!!! Great information!

Shawn

Aaron - OF COURSE! I'm a bit embarrassed that it didn't occur to me! Especially that extra lug that seemed familiar... Thanks for posting.

George P.

Awesome Aaron!!!
Finally we know that he means the K.
Summary: The cart comes from a Kinetoscope. They modified it and it was mounted on a CLASS M, Balmoral type.
Curious. It would be necessary to know what year these montages were made, even if it were approximate.