The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was looking through Frow's Edison Disc Phonographs last night and noticed that he referenced earlier production using the conventional cast motor plate, while later production went to a wooden motor board. I've never seen one of these wooden motor boards on a Schubert. Can anybody show one?

Thanks - -

George P.

George:
I'm trying to find that reference you mentioned; do you have a page number?
Bob

There cannot be many Schuberts in the UK, but one of the few is the subject of an article in the CLPGS magazine "For the Record" No.23 Autumn 2007.

The article states that early in 1928 a wooden motor board was fitted together with a different horn, possibly in response to Edison's belated introduction of electrical recording.

The UK machine bears the Serial Number CLT:1902 and has a black painted metal motor plate.

barnettrp21122 wrote:George:
I'm trying to find that reference you mentioned; do you have a page number?
Bob

My copy is the original 1982 edition, page 176:

"It is likely that early examples may be found with a metal top-plate and horn resembling the old style. These seem to have been replaced with a wooden motor board and new horn early in 1928."

The Schubert I'm restoring is No.3020 and retains the cast top plate and "old style" horn (lengthened of course). I don't know the serial range of the Schubert, but this example wouldn't seem to be early production. I'm curious to see a wooden motor board and "new horn."

Thanks for the replies thus far!

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

barnettrp21122 wrote:George:
I'm trying to find that reference you mentioned; do you have a page number?
Bob

My copy is the original 1982 edition, page 176:

"It is likely that early examples may be found with a metal top-plate and horn resembling the old style. These seem to have been replaced with a wooden motor board and new horn early in 1928."

The Schubert I'm restoring is No.3020 and retains the cast top plate and "old style" horn (lengthened of course). I don't know the serial range of the Schubert, but this example wouldn't seem to be early production. I'm curious to see a wooden motor board and "new horn."

Thanks for the replies thus far!

George P.

My 2001 edition is missing those lines in the description on the same page. My own machine is number 4129, with the regular motorboard.
Bob

Aha - I think we have the answer! Corrected in later editions. Thanks Bob!

George P.

Glad to help. It's interesting to think that the Edison company thought that by simply modifying the reproducer and horn length they could compete with the Orthophonic design. IMO there's no comparision.
B.

barnettrp21122 wrote:Glad to help. It's interesting to think that the Edison company thought that by simply modifying the reproducer and horn length they could compete with the Orthophonic design. IMO there's no comparision.
B.

I agree. The Edisonics knock the socks off the earlier Edison Disc Phonographs in volume, but frequency range doesn't sound greatly expanded. Still, it's a heart-rending attempt to hang on in the face of the Orthophonics. Kind of like the Little Big Horn... (Now that's funny stuff! )

George P.

If the diaphragm is in good shape the Edisonics are not bad. They get pretty shrill when the diaphragm dries out...as most do. But for sure they are never going to match a Credenza or even , I suspect the medium sized Orthophonic horn. But on a good day they're a match for the small Ortho horn or the straight Western Electric ( Consolette) horn, don't you think?
Jim

Lenoirstreetguy wrote:If the diaphragm is in good shape the Edisonics are not bad. They get pretty shrill when the diaphragm dries out...as most do. But for sure they are never going to match a Credenza or even , I suspect the medium sized Orthophonic horn. But on a good day they're a match for the small Ortho horn or the straight Western Electric ( Consolette) horn, don't you think?
Jim

When playing an electrically-recorded Edison Record, the Schubert certainly impressed me. Mine's all apart at the moment while I reverse decades of neglect & abuse; otherwise I'd try to make some comparisons.

I'll let the real audio experts weigh in on this!

George P.