The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was reading the "Home" section in Frow this evening, and noted his mention that the Mahogany cabinet "became available on special order from June, 1904", to harmonize with mahogany record cabinets that were coming into vogue....

So, my theory would be that whichever decal was in use in mid to late 1904 would be "correct"...


As to the earlier question about whether or not a B would still have a banner decal, I checked on my Home B with a banner decal today - it is serial # H 163271. Definitely a B, with lever-lock on the end-gate, and one-piece upper-casting, etc. The upper-works and case look equally decrepit, so my hunch is that this machine is unmolested.




Updated - found a picture of my "Banner B"... main reason I bought this wreck was to get the "Pansy" Tea-Tray Co. Horn that was with it...

Looking at my notes on Homes, the earliest Model B I've spotted was in the 151000 range from late 1905 with a Tall style case and a Banner transfer. The Banners seem to fade away after about 207000.

The earliest serial numbers for the Model C are 337995 (no case) and 338263 (Tall case - Model B type). The earliest Model D is 339682 in a Late style case.

So far the earliest Ds I've seen all have the Late style case even though the bedplate decorations were the early single stripes with the grass tufts at the corners. I have seen isolated later Ds with Tall cases. It is not impossible these were originally issued as Ds in that they occur during the time of using up Model B parts (ie: Model B patent plates with the model type a suffix to the serial number).

If the bedplate in question here is a C or a D, it should appear on the patent plate either on a model type window or as a suffix to the serial number.

Amberola, here's my 2 cents: Were it my project, I'd restore the case to how it looked originally, rather than be ruled by what the current mechanism may have had. I'm pretty sure it would have had a dark red mahogany finish with the Edison script transfer on front. In any case, it'll be quite a looker when you're done. Good luck!

Martin