The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

RCALen wrote: Wed May 12, 2021 11:30 pm Hi Fran - for your database...

1. What is the Model Designation? C250

2. What is the Serial Number? SM-52917

3. Which finish does the motor plate have?: 3D) Black with NO pin striping.

4(A) No drip pan

4(B) Flat

4(C) 2 springs

4(D) Gold plated

5. 5C - R-1 Round emblem stating: “The Model 250 Diamond Disc Phonograph is the Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”

6. 6A) 2 Drawers divided into 5-compartments.

7. Cabinet Wood Type: Oak

8. Is an "Electric Automatic Stop" (AKA Duncan Stop) present? Yes

9. Dealer tags? No

10. Receipts? No

11. Is there Grille cloth present? Not exactly – original cloth was missing but some bits stuck inside the edges of the grill suggest there was an ivory-colored silk type fabric at some point. Not sure if that was original or not though.

12. Door rods are at Bottom

13. Cabinet Factory No.18

There is a “Notice” from the factory on left side in the horn compartment – see photos. I can also confirm that trim pieces do come off the cabinet where the glue has dried out. Several of mine pop out as you’ll see in the photos.

Also, this machine located in Alberta, Canada, if that is any interest. I’m the third owner and it was originally sold in Alberta as well from what I was told.

Thanks,
Lennon

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spinalflow wrote: Mon Aug 14, 2023 11:52 am Thanks for your work on this project!

Here is my most recent machine

1. What is the Model Designation? C 250

2. What is the Serial Number? "SM-50830

3. Which finish does the motor plate have?: 3D) "Black with NO pin striping".

4(A) Are there drip pans present under the governor, innermost spring barrel (found only on the earliest C 250's) AND: are they finished in "Maroon", or "Black”? NO

4(B) Does the top of the motor plate have a continuous flat surface, or is there a large concentric circular depression (located beneath the turntable) present? Circular

4(C) Does the governor (located beneath the turntable) have "2 springs" or "3 springs"?

4(D) Which finish is on the reproducer, horn throat, and other hardware on the motor plate? Gold plated

5. Which "Official Laboratory Medallion" is present? 5C) "R-1" = Round emblem stating: “The Model 250 Diamond Disc Phonograph is the Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”

6. Which form of record storage is present: 6A) 2 Drawers divided into 5-compartments.

7. Cabinet Wood Type: Oak

8. Is an "Electric Automatic Stop" (AKA Duncan Stop) present on the motor plate? Yes

9. Please list any dealer tags or decals present anywhere on the cabinet: Name/Address, location on machine, etc.

10. Are there any original dated sales receipts/shipping documentation, etc. with the machine? (Dates are particularly noteworthy) Original Owners Manuel

11. Is there Grille cloth present? AND: What is the Color? NA Found strands of golden Yellow/ Orange fibers embedded in old glue

12. Is the record storage door held open by a rod at the top, center, or the bottom of the cabinet door? Bottom

13. What is the "Cabinet Factory No." - (if present) as found on the sticker inside the horn compartment. No. 18

visierl wrote: Fri Dec 20, 2024 3:49 pm Fran,
I don't think I posted a reply, oddly I did write up answers on a piece of paper here for your previous survey... Anyway, here are answers to your "current" survey...
The following are particular features that I am observing on the Edison C250/C19 Chippendale Phonographs, please number your responses accordingly.

1. What is the Model Designation? C 250

2. What is the Serial Number? SM-39868

3. Which finish does the motor plate have?: 3D ["Black with NO pin striping". Thomas Edison Signature is there but very worn, no pin-striping, no-speed control instructions,
no oiling instructions, doesn't look like any of these details were removed]

4(A) Are there drip pans present under the governor, innermost spring barrel (found only on the earliest C 250's) AND: are they finished in "Maroon", or "Black”? No

4(B) Does the top of the motor plate have a continuous flat surface, or is there a large concentric circular depression (located beneath the turntable) present? Flat

4(C) Does the governor (located beneath the turntable) have "2 springs" or "3 springs"? 2 Springs

4(D) Which finish is on the reproducer, horn throat, and other hardware on the motor plate? “Gold plated”, or “Gun-metal” (AKA "antique bronze")? Gold Plated

I have two reproducers, one is gold plated one is gun-metal, I believe the gold plated is original because it has the hole to plug the Duncan stop into
and it matches the horn throat

5. Which "Official Laboratory Medallion" is present? R-1 [Round emblem stating: “The Model 250 Diamond Disc Phonograph is the Official Laboratory Model Thos A Edison”]

6. Which form of record storage is present? 6A [2 Drawers divided into 5-compartments.]

7. Cabinet Wood Type: "Mahogany" or "Oak"? Mahogany

8. Is an "Electric Automatic Stop" (AKA Duncan Stop) present on the motor plate? Yes

9. Please list any dealer tags or decals present anywhere on the cabinet: Name/Address, location on machine, etc.? None

10. Are there any original dated sales receipts/shipping documentation, etc. with the machine? (Dates are particularly noteworthy)? None

11. Is there Grille cloth present? AND: What is the Color? Grill cloth is missing

12. Is the record storage door held open by a rod at the top, center, or the bottom of the cabinet door? Bottom

13. What is the "Cabinet Factory No." - (if present) as found on the sticker inside the horn compartment? None Present

Hope this is useful... According to information I found somewhere (probably somewhere on this site) Serial Number 32115 was built in early 1917 and production was about 3500 per month, so I have estimated this to be an early to mid 1917 unit (2 to 3 months after 32115). That could be completely wrong, though.

Eric