The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Mark

I've got two Schubert Edisonic's to add to the list.
#1 s/n 1511
#2 s/n 1856
Both in nice condition. One in family room and one parked in garage.

Tim,

Two very nicely preserved Schuberts indeed. Thank you for adding their serial numbers and photos to the thread.

Mindy

SCHUBERT/EDISON MUSEUM, NEW JERSEY: Serial no. 2767, no known provance

all these serials with location data up until 1556 are from the west coast............. hmmmm.......could the first Schuberts have shipped out here first?

and the last ones are all overseas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Chewy,

Very observant/attentive to the details from this thread (re. earliest Schuberts apparently domiciled on the west coast, with the final ones overseas). Fran's threads and mine are complimentary: he's documenting the evolution of the models (resulting in path-breaking discoveries on the relation between the Long Play models and the Edisonics) while mine centers on individual machines and captures images, sales histories, and other anecdotes. We didn't plan it that way, but that's how it's worked out. Collectively we're probably boring the non-Edison people on the forum.

I've been meaning to ask you: do you have a photo to post of the Schubert you found in the Edison museum in New Jersey? Over the years I've tried to get Edisonic serial numbers from various museums, but they never reply to me.

nope - he sent me a brief message and didnt reply to the second more crazy longer message- but did provide the number...

pughphonos wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 3:53 pm Hi Chewy,

Very observant/attentive to the details from this thread (re. earliest Schuberts apparently domiciled on the west coast, with the final ones overseas). Fran's threads and mine are complimentary: he's documenting the evolution of the models (resulting in path-breaking discoveries on the relation between the Long Play models and the Edisonics) while mine centers on individual machines and captures images, sales histories, and other anecdotes. We didn't plan it that way, but that's how it's worked out. Collectively we're probably boring the non-Edison people on the forum.

I've been meaning to ask you: do you have a photo to post of the Schubert you found in the Edison museum in New Jersey? Over the years I've tried to get Edisonic serial numbers from various museums, but they never reply to me.

If late is still better than never, my Schubert is No. 3741 (and cabinet factory No. 18).

I got it in Yakima (WA), in May 2021. It'd been on Craigslist for a while, but it doesn't look like it got recorded in this thread? It's complete and working, and came with a manual, lubrication kit, and some marketing stuff. It looks a bit better in reality than in the picture, but it was dirty (and stinky) from decades of tobacco smoke.

Congratulations on acquiring what appears to be a very fine Schubert! It's really nice that period ephemera is present. That's a pretty special inclusion, not often found with any machine.

Could you photograph the cabinet from the front with the doors closed, please? The finish on these late-period cabinets don't seem to age well, and I'd love to see the finish on the doors - if that's okay.

Do you know if this came from the original purchaser's family? It would be great if you could put together a bit of provenance to keep with the machine.

Best,
Fran

Thanks! It still needs some work, but it's in pretty good shape and I do like it. And also yes, always a (very) nice bonus when the machine still has its original paper and/or accessories.

I had to take the picture at an angle to minimize glare and shadows so I hope that's okay. The front of the machine is pretty alligatored and there's a big gouge in the middle of the right door, obscured by brown stain (not my doing). It's hard to see in the picture but the right door knob is slightly higher than the left one, and pictures in this thread indicate it's not the only one like that. Another example of cabinet quality problems with later Edison machines, I suppose.

Unfortunately I don't know the complete provenance, and it's not the happiest of stories. The person I bought it from was apparently selling it on behalf of his friend, who'd recently been hospitalized and was having to go into assisted living soon, so needed to start downsizing. He liked to collect antiques and old stuff in general, and though he'd had it for a long time, it wasn't something from his family.