The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

UPDATED INDEX (AS OF AUGUST 22, 2020) TO POSTINGS:

SERIAL NUMBERS of machines posted above (and some below), arranged in order (with dates of posting):

BEETHOVEN EDISONICS:
1049 (11/13/2015 & 11/15/2015); 1121 (4/30/2014);
1200 (03/8/2015); 1220 (4/25/2014); 1238 (4/29/2014);
1262 (4/25/2014); 1274(8/21/2020);
1316 (4/25/2014 & 9/1/2015 & 11/15/2015);
1545 (12/24/2015 & 4/8/2016); 1592 (8/21/2020);
1712 (8/22/2020); 1757 (4/25/2014 & 11/19/2015);
1853 (4/23/2014); 1898 (4/21/2014);
1977 (6/20/2014 & 7/1/2014 & 4/6/2015 & 6/4/2015 & 8/6/2015);
1993 (8/21/2020); 2036 (4/25/2014); 2085 (8/21/2020);
2157 (4/22/2014); 2292? (4/21/2014); 2488 (5/1/2014);
2491 (7/12/2014 & 6/2/2015); 2641 (5/14/2014)

SCHUBERT EDISONICS:
1020 (6/2/2015); 1108 (8/7/2015); 1150 (4/25/2014); 1187 (4/24/2014);
1216 (4/25/2014, 4/26/2014 & 5/4/2014); 1217 (4/28/2014 & 5/4/2014);
1246 (4/21/2014); 1329 (5/1/2014 & 05/6/2014); 1394 (4/25/2014);
1441 (4/25/2014); 1534 (8/21/2020); 1537 (6/5/2015); 1544 (6/13/2016);
1556 (4/22/2014 & 5/2/2015 & ½/2016); 1596 (7/22/2014);
1656 (4/25/2014); 1672 (7/30/2014); 1765 (4/23/2015 & 4/25/2015);
1844 (3/11/2015 & 5/3/2015 & 9/17/2015); 1897 (5/14/2014);
1902 (4/22/2014); 1913 (4/25/2014); 1922 (12/24/2015);
1958(4/27/2014 & 11/8/2015 & 11/15/2015); 2002 (4/25/2014);
2010(4/28/2014); 2058 (4/25/2014); 2276 (9/6/2018);
2288 (4/22/2014 & 5/1/2014); 2501 (11/25/2016 & 12/15/2016);
2590 (11/25/2016 & 12/15/2016);
2673 (4/24/2014 & 5/29/2014 & 7/19/2020); 2723 (4/23/2014);
2773 (9/1/2015); 2982 (4/25/2014); 3020 (4/22/2014 & 10/18/2015);
3023 (4/25/2014); 3155 (11/19/2019); 3398 (4/21/2014);
3618 (4/21/2014); 3621 (5/18/2014 & 1/17/2016);
3675 (4/21/2014); 3835 (6/4/2015 & 11/30/2015); 3919 (7/7/2014);
4005 (4/22/2014); 4129 (4/22/2014); 4139 (6/11/2016);
4157 (8/4/2015 & 9/1/2015); 4246 (4/25/2014); 4484 (4/25/2014);
4574 (6/12/2016); 4587 (11/14/2019); 4752 (4/21/2014);
4869 (4/29/2014); 5056 (4/22/2014 & 5/23/2014 & 2/16/2016);
5451 (10/15/2015 & 10/17/2015 & 2/17/2016);
5653 (4/21/2014); 5670 (05/6/2014 & 5/19/2014);
5678 (4/28/2014 & 8/8/2015); 6025 (4/30/2014 & 6/21/2014)

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NON-SERIAL NUMBER DESIGNATION SYSTEM

As stated at the start of this thread, it is preferred first and foremost that we list information on machines using serial numbers.

However, in the case of old/inactive on-line listings where serial numbers were not provided and there is no current contact information, I have devised the following designation system whereby we can record information from these listings. It is not a perfect system as the same machines might appear again in listings from other localities. But it will still add to our knowledge base by enabling us to capture unique images and information on particular machines as they work their way through listings. If, in future, we can gain serial numbers for any of these machines, I will link the serial number to the old listings.

For example, in 2013 I contacted a Craigslist seller in Minnesota who had a Schubert; he would not sell it to me as I could not arrange a local pick-up. I do not know what has since happened with that machine. But I still have the description from 2013. My temporary designation for that machine (so that I can post it here) is USMN2013MAY19.

How to create a non-serial number designation. For old US postings, use US and then the US state postal code (in this case, MN=Minnesota), followed immediately by the original date of posting. For old foreign postings, spell out the full country name and then the original date of posting: e.g. FRANCE2012JANUARY31.

The following entries are arranged chronologically by original posting dates:

BEETHOVEN EDISONICS:
USMI2007NOVEMBER9 (4/27/2014); US2010DECEMBER19 (5/3/2014)

SCHUBERT EDISONICS:
USNJ1997NOVEMBER15 (5/7/2014); AUSTRALIA1997NOVEMBER20 (5/1/2014);
USNY2005 (5/2/2014); GERMANY2006 (4/25/2014);
USMD2006JULY7 (4/24/2014 & 5/29/2014--SEE Serial #2673);
USPA2007 (5/1/2014); USMI2007NOVEMBER9 (4/27/2014); USIL2008JUNE16 (4/27/2014--SEE Serial #1958);
USIL2010JUNE12(4/24/2014); NEW ZEALAND2012MAY3 (4/25/2014);
USWA2013MARCH17 (5/1/2014); USMN2013MAY19 (4/23/2013);
USGA2013AUGUST8 (4/25/2014); USNY2015SEP (10/15/2015 & 10/17/2015—SEE Serial #5451)

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FINALLY, "YOU TUBE" VIDEOS OF UNIDENTIFIED EDISONICS AND THEIR UNIDENTIFIED OWNERS
(see posting dated 4/30/2014 for details and links)

Number of BEETHOVEN EDISONICS portrayed: 0
Number of SCHUBERT EDISONICS portrayed: 2
("Classy8888" has since been identified as Ian Griggs, who owns #6025)
("Chagall56" has since been identified as our own "Marcapra"--and he reveals that the Schubert filmed is #1246)

MIKE WOHL'S VERY CHALLENGED BEETHOVEN, RESCUED FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY IN 2017

Model: Beethoven Edisonic
Serial number: 1712

Originally posted elsewhere on this forum by "jharrellh" on 11/21/2017 under subject "Edisonic Beethoven for $32 on FB Marketplace!" Bought by Mike Wohl ("colmike1") of Peoria, Illinois, who then posted the following photos to the same string on 12/5/2017 with this statement:

"Here are pics of the Edisonic Beethoven. As you can see, it has lived a very hard life. It is missing it's horn & neck, it's grill, one set of door hinges, both knobs and one set of lid hinges. The rear hinge board is broken, one lid has a chunk out of it, it has lost it's veneer on the crank side and the rear veneer has moisture damage. Although I am glad we were able to rescue this piece, I realize I am not the one to restore it. If anyone is interested in it to restore, please let me know. I can store it as long as you need and can deliver to Union in June."

However, Mike subsequently decided to restore the machine himself and posted about his efforts to locate missing parts on a string begun on 12/22/2017 under the title "Wanted: Parts for Edison Edisonsonic Beethoven" (Obviously an accidental misspelling in the subject line, but that makes it easy to search!)

I made it to our second home this weekend and, pardon me, but, we are in the process of trying to empty it out so there is all kinds of stuff piled around the phonograph.

The first photo is the serial number info so the file can be updated, then I included photos of the unit itself (without being cleaned up at all), under the "hoods", and with the front doors open.

We have a lot of documentation, and a total of 53 records. Three of those are the Gold Label longplays, 4 have Black embossed labels on the record with no numbers, one is black embossed with a number, and 45 of the standard records.

I'm including a brief selection of pictures and I do have more, as well as a list of all of the record numbers, if anyone's interested.

So? Since you guys (and gals) are the experts, do I have a diamond or a stone?

Sorry, I didn't understand how your photo attachment process worked. Let's try again!

Two more photos, then I'll quit.

Very delighted to make your acquaintance and that of Beethoven 1558! Whether or not I can precisely pick a point between treasure and stone, it's much closer to treasure and something to be proud of. I'll get it into the key to the inventory the next time I re-publish the key, which will probably only be a few more days.

Best of luck with the cleaning; hope the head isn't too oppressive.

Mindy

Rustuki wrote:
So? Since you guys (and gals) are the experts, do I have a diamond or a stone?

Diamond. Absolutely. A Beethoven with a long play kit installed is the equivalent of a souped-up hot rod in the Edison world. And you have the Edisonic reproducer and the Long Play reproducer too! The only comment I would make is that the one record you showed looks like it has significant wear from a worn out stylus. You need to check your reproducers to see if the diamonds are still good. To do this, find a record with a large area near the center that has no recorded grooves. With the machine running, set the repoducer down on the blank area for a few seconds, then lift the reproducer and stop the machine. Now examine the spot you just "played". If you can see lines on the record, the stylus is damaged and should not be used.

Very nice group of literature too! Enjoy the machine!

Thank you for your responses!

So, if the reproducer(s) need repair, where do they go? Or is this something I'm capable of doing at home? Sorry if this has been addressed earlier in the Forum somewhere. I have stayed pretty close to the area where I started.

Also, how do I tell which is the long play reproducer and which is the standard?

Another thing that I noticed was that the front door pulls on the unit are a clamshell design made of metal and look to be original. I thought that I read somewhere in the forum that those pulls were wooden and susceptible to damage?

Are there a lot of the old discs around or is there another location that is interested in those by number? Also possibly a forum that is interested in documentation?

Guidance is always appreciated.

Hey, you must not be reading my replies. I've already said you can tell the Long Play rep. because it says LONG on it and it has a turned head on kind of an angle, and the Edisonic rep. has the fat, wide weight. You don't have a standard rep. Wow, when I was telling you about the Long play mechanism, I never thought that you would actually have one installed on yours. I think they only did this on the early Beethovens made in 1927. Mine is serial no. 1200 made in 1927. If your LP Edisons are in good shape, they are worth some money. I would love to see the serial numbers of your while label records and LP records. Any 12" ones? Keep in mind that the LP records are very fragile as far as the groove, so don't play them until you know more. Wyatt Markus is the one to talk to for the rep. work.