My first Edison C200 and info on it's restoration

[fran604g]

Just for fun, I've done a little "sleuthing" this morning, in an attempt to help you understand the time period your C 200 was manufactured. I hope my long-winded synopsis isn't too confusing - but in reality, Edison production can be substantially confusing and problematic.

A few years ago I wrote a series of articles extolling the history of the most successful selling Diamond Disc Phonograph produced by Thomas A. Edison, Inc.: the "Chippendale" C 250/C 19*. In these articles I detailed features which changed over the years of manufacturing and estimated when these many changes were implemented. Although I can't speak to the C 200 or other models produced over the same time period (1915-1929), some of the features found on the C 250/C 19 can be applied to indicate certain features of those other models.

One such feature is the motorplate finish and embellishments. Complete with motor, the entire assembly was designated by the Edison co. as the "B-Type" Mechanism.

The first version of the B-Type mechanism's motorplate had a maroon finish with gold pinstriping and applied decals with gold lettering on a maroon background.

The second version of the B-Type motorplate had a black finish with gold pinstriping and applied decals with gold lettering on a black background, like yours. That overall scheme was replaced by a couple of further changes around the first months of 1917; the motor speed adjustment knob was changed from a large "fancy" one, like yours, to a much plainer and smaller one. The Edison Co. never wasted old stock in its inventory, so there was signifiant overlap during transitions between production changes. With the C 250/ C 19, these transitions were relatively rapid because of the volume of units being produced, and this would have been slightly different (slower) for less popular models. After early 1917, the decals and pinstriping found on the motorplates of then-current (C 250) production disappeared entirely. This would've been a change that impacted all models manufactured thereafter in some way.

The C 200 was introduced August 1, 1915, according to George L. Frow's landmark book The Edison Disc Phonographs and the Diamond Discs; 1st American Printing 2001 - ISBN 0-9606466-3-4; pg.110. He also states that the C 200 "...was superseded by the S-19 Sheraton (q.v.) during 1919" when there was a significant restructuring of design and production, which pertained to all Diamond Disc Phonograph models.

This indicates the longest possible production time period of your machine to somewhere between (late) 1915 and (early) 1919,

I discovered that the dataplates used in production of the C250/ C19 were stamped out of 3 different metals between 1915-1919. The earliest was nickel plated brass. During WWI, wartime exigencies required the brass/nickel plated dataplates to be replaced by steel/nickel plated dataplates, and later by aluminum dataplates. All 3 versions were "Japanned" with a black lacquer background then stamped with the model and serial number during manufacturing. If you can determine which metal was used for your dataplate, we might be able to further narrow down its production period. Brass dataplates would've yielded to steel after about April 1917 due to America's increased involvement in the wartime effort, and aluminum dataplates seem to have appeared after August 1917. In my opinion, these changes should have impacted all models produced during this time period.

Since your C 200 has what I consider a relatively high serial number (18[6]05 - I can't quite make out whether the "6" is a "5", but that's largely irrelevant), hypothetically your C 200 may have been manufactured between late 1916/early 1917.

The paper "label" pasted on the left-hand side of the horn opening of yours is "Form 1112-3-15-15" indicating a printing and/or label application date of March 15, 1915. In and of itself this can be misleading, as this label would've been used over an indeterminate period of time. My own personal restored-to-original condition C 250 (c. last quarter of 1916) has the same motorplate decals, pinstriping and speed adjustment knob as yours, with a brass/nickel plated dataplate. The paper label found in the left-hand side of the horn compartment of my C 250 is "Form 1112" only, and doesn't include the date extension. I own a Model A 100 with the same motorplate finish/decal/speed knob scheme as yours that has indications it was produced in August 1916. However, the paper label found pasted to my A 100's left-hand side of the horn compartment is "Form 1112 4-1-16".

Cheers,
Fran


*see The Edison Chippendale C 250 and its successor: the C 19 by Francis W. Pratt, featured in The Antique Phonograph from December, 2015 - September, 2016. Past issues of the quarterly publication are available for viewing to Antique Phonograph Society members at their website https://www.antiquephono.org/ The related comprehensive production estimate spreadsheet for the C 250/C 19 can be viewed by the public at https://www.antiquephono.org/edison-c-2 ... -1925-pdf/

[Herderz]

Thanks fran604g for taking the time to give me this information. This is great to know more about the manufacturing configurations by date. The data plate is brass base, nickel plate with black background. The serial number is actually "SM 13505"
Here is a paper label I missed on the right side of the horn bay. I have seen where there would be a date stamp on this label on other models but I don't see one on this one.

[fran604g]

Thanks fran604g for taking the time to give me this information. This is great to know more about the manufacturing configurations by date. The data plate is brass base, nickel plate with black background. The serial number is actually "SM 13505"
Here is a paper label I missed on the right side of the horn bay. I have seen where there would be a date stamp on this label on other models but I don't see one on this one.

20201214_112130.jpg

You're very welcome. The "Factory No." labels are of great interest to me as well. To my knowledge there is no documentation of which cabinet factory correlates to each number designation. If the info can ever be found, that would be wonderful.

Best,
Fran

[Herderz]

I pulled the casters out and cleaned the leg caps with ammonia. The casters were very dirty and rusty, they did show signs of being brass plated when new. I was able to clean then up with a fine wire wheel on my polisher. I used lithium grease to lube the ball bearings wheel axles and a dab on the caster shafts before popping them back in.

[Inigo]

What a machine, and good work you've done on it! I'm green with envy...

[Herderz]

Thanks Inigo,
Now I took on the horn bay and drawer bay of the cabinet. The drawer bay was mainly 100 years of dust. I got it cleaned out and wiped down with soap and water then coated with bee's wax to feed the dry wood. The horn bay took a little more attention. The walls were dusty and dry and the bottom was coated in oil / grease and dirt. I wiped it down with soap and water but the bottom I had to use some 409 to cut off the grease and oil then a coat of bee's wax. 24 hours later the wax really soaked into the wood and a mild buff with cotton cloth got it looking great for the inside.

Now I have my base starting point and will start to clean up everything else one piece at a time and install. I cleaned the crank handle grommet which is gold plate with ammonia.

I cleaned the lower horn shaft bushing and installed.

I used a fine cut cleaner on the side boards to remove oil and dirt buildup and also the inside upper walls. Everything cleaned up nicely.

[Herderz]

I did an inspection of the motor and found 3 of the 8 oil tubes not letting oil through, also the 3 screws mounting the crank side drum gear to the drum loose. Got it out going to have to go through it. Can't help myself on things like these. I did find a stamped number on the underside of the main board casting, Don't know what it means, 68367.

[Herderz]

I broke down the main spring assembly and also the drive gear train assembly. Nice design to be able to remove separately along with each oil lube assembles. Cleaned the gear train first, just years of muk. I don't see anything to bad of shape. re-assembled with preliminary oiling to get started. I set endplay of the gear shafts per Edison service manual, about 1/64".

[Herderz]

I dis-assembled the winding shaft and gears and cleaned them up. Also the drum main shaft and drive gears. No sigh of wear to the gear teeth or mesh. Slight wear on the crank side of the arbor shaft. This was 2 of the stopped up oiling tubes. Not much concern as these bushings are just for winding and still do not have much deflection.

I have re-assembled the crank mount and pre-oiled. I cleaned the main spring drum on the outside and will do it next.

[Herderz]

This is what I did to the oiler cups and tubes to free them up. I used spray carburetor cleaner to clean out the tubes and soften the felt tips to get flow going again. It took several spray attempts to soften the felt tips and get the guk out but I was able to get all the tubes flowing. I was compelled to use my air compressor to blow the tubes free but thought this could blow the felt tips out of the tubes.