Best Finds of 2008!!

[WDC]

Well, I paid more than five bucks but the machine came with it.

[ColoradoPhonograf]

This is a fun topic of discussion. I've been enjoying seeing all the fun toys everyone added to their collections. I bought four machines in 2008, a bow sided Puritan in mahogany, and a banner front Edison Home with the nice Model D repeater attachment. I think my two favorites for the year are this Brunswick model 35 with serpentine sides, and a fancy cased Victor D which was acquired at the Union show.

Happy collecting to all in 2009 !

[MordEth]

This is a fun topic of discussion. I've been enjoying seeing all the fun toys everyone added to their collections.

ColoradoPhonograf,

You’ve added some lovely photographs of your own.

Certainly, it’s interesting to see what people have managed to add to their collections and have considered to be a good find; there are a lot of very nice machines out there trading hands.

Plus, I’m glad to see that the attachment feature seems to be working well for the people that use it, and so I am also glad to be able to provide additional features (although I still have a lot of work left to do).

Does anyone know if Edison made a cloning machine? I really could use the other 4 of my band of 5. (Yes, yes, I know the latter half of the reference is far too modern—but it’s still partially on-topic.)

I look forward to seeing more of your finds (and will probably want to cut them out in Photoshop if you do not mind letting me do so, although I have quite a backlog of things I want to do right now).

Thank you all!

— MordEth

[phonophan79]

Here is my Elite playing a really nice version of the "Charleston" on a Bell record from early 1925.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6dk9s3_3s4

Great video and tune! Thanks for sharing!

It sounds very good, though not quite as loud as my C-250. Interesting thing about this machine is the reproducer has a copper diaphragm. I have never seen copper in a DD repro before or since.

Me neither! Brad - what does it do? How does it sound?

Mine find for 2008 is this Edisonic. Whoever had it before me took very good care of it!

Sharon, thanks for all your help assisting me with my Edisonic!

...
I am glad you remembered that article. I was the author. The serial number of my D-25 Jacobean is 820.

Yes, I recall, we exchanged emails (victrolaman). If you still have it the serial number should be stated.

Seems like we are the only "Jacobeanians" out here..
Brad

Let's get some Jacobean YouTube action!

I found my best (phonographic) find about 6 weeks ago; I highlighted it in a thread on our previous forum...

This Victor V with matching (non-Victor) serpentine oak cabinet.

Ugh... I yearn for a wood horn external phono. :-p

I think my two favorites for the year are this Brunswick model 35 with serpentine sides, and a fancy cased Victor D which was acquired at the Union show.

I absolutely LOVE that Bunswick.

[phonophan79]

Well Guys... in 2008 I 2008 I was able to complete what I call my Edison DD Triumvirate.

Edison Army/Navy Diamond Disc phonograph

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl2Lgg1fxBA

Edisonic Schubert "New" Diamond Disc phonograph

YouTube: still to come

Edison Long Play 3-C Diamond Disc phonograph

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W62mP1x46T8

[beaumonde]

Beaumonde,
Could you tell me whether or not you used something on your Vic V horn to make it so shiney? Wax or tung oil?

Just cleaned it with a light application of Kotton Kleanser. It was already pretty clean, except for some of the interiors of the "speartips", with remarkably intact original finish. On the Victor V cabinet I cleaned with K.K., then applied a coat of Howard's Feed & Wax and buffed.

[schweg]

That Brunswick machine is fantastic. I recently saw one at auction but the finish was not as nice as the one pictured. I bid on it but didn't bring it home..

[Brad]

I guess my best score of '08 was an edison D-25 Jacobean. From what I can tell there are not many of these around and I got it for not much money.

great machine.

but isn't that the model that was supposed to have a very dark, if not lacquered, finish over the oak?

this one has been refinished, right? is it the same machine that was discussed - regarding the restoration - on one of the older boards a year or so ago?

Brianu,

Yes, yes, no and yes

Apparantly the original Jocobeans did have a very dark finish and was a dismal seller. Solophonemans artical suggested that one machine he was aware of had been refinished in the very distant past. I believe Solophoneman did similar treatment to his. If I recall, the one on the other board was a restoral done by Covah who did the same thing. Mine has had the dark finish removed and as near as I can tell it was done a very very long time ago.

Personally, I am in agreement with others that own these machines that they look much better in this condition. To me, this is part of the history of this machine and does not detract from it.

Besides Solophoneman, Covah, and myself, any other Jacobeans out there?

[Zeppy]

This is a fun topic of discussion. I've been enjoying seeing all the fun toys everyone added to their collections. I bought four machines in 2008, a bow sided Puritan in mahogany, and a banner front Edison Home with the nice Model D repeater attachment. I think my two favorites for the year are this Brunswick model 35 with serpentine sides, and a fancy cased Victor D which was acquired at the Union show.

Happy collecting to all in 2009 !

Brunswick35 002.jpg

2008Machines 001.jpg

2008Machines 005.jpg

What? No pictures of the Puritan???

[solophoneman]

Besides Solophoneman, Covah, and myself, any other Jacobeans out there?[/quote]


I know of at least four others. Two of them in Southeastern Massachusetts, and two in Missouri owned by a collector who deliberately sot out these Edison Rarities after reading my article. The original D-25's had this beautiful and unusual grain and swirls of the Unique Stump oak cabinets covered over with an ugly dark "Edison Brown" color. The two machines that I saw prior to finding mine both at some point in their lifetime, had the dark brown removed to reveal the wonderful original grain of the Stump Oak. When I found my D-25 it had the ugly brown on it, and I found remarkably that I could remove most of it simply by rubbing it off with a furniture cleaner. I left the inside under the lid intact with the dark stain as to not disturb the original Edison Logo. In addition to the beautiful swirling grain of the stump oak and unusual cabinet design and embellishments, the Stump Oak is an unusually dense and heavy wood, as other owners will attest to who have moved one, and even just lifted the lid up and down. If you look at the original brochure featuring the D-25, it is hard to tell if the dark color was an afterthought, as the swirling grains are in fact visible in the brochure depiction of this phonograph. According to Frows book, the D-25 stump oak cabinet will naturally darken with age. Maybe this explains why I could remove so much of the dark brown just with a cleaner. Just a theory of course.