The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

There are quite a number of machines & music in this auction I see is coming up in Walla Walla, WA. Nov. 10.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/ ... tion/page1

Including a low serial number Schoohouse and 2 Ptacek replicas, along w / a Triumph and many cylinders (pink Lamberts) & machine parts.

I had the pleasure knowing Bill Shawver. It was always fun to pay him a visit. He was an eclectic collector and his interests ranged from meteorites to bronze sculptures. He was an educator that spent his entire career as a principal at a small school but more importantly was a lifelong learner. At my last visit he asked if I'd like to look through his spare parts. I picked up a Columbia nickel horn that was covered with decades of dust. Just as I asked the price, I noticed a bullet hole that passed through the horn close to the small end. He then told me the story of a man killed in a gunfight in a Montana saloon. I had to have the horn and it was only $65. I'll miss Bill. Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:Just as I asked the price, I noticed a bullet hole that passed through the horn close to the small end. He then told me the story of a man killed in a gunfight in a Montana saloon.

A friend of mine has a backmount cylinder Graphophone with a bullet hole through the horn. There might have been a good story behind it. Too bad a talking machine can't...uh...talk.

Lot #19 is a Mignon typewriter. This is the machine that William Barry Owen became fixated upon and convinced the Gramophone interests to distribute because he had convinced himself that the Gramophone was a passing fad. This is the typewriter in 'Gramophone and Typewriter Company'.

Hmmm the same auction that a number of forum folks about 6-9 months ago seeemed to doubt when one of the auction employees reached out for some help to vet some of the sale items. Doubt? Look in archives for the comments. LH

JohnM wrote:Lot #19 is a Mignon typewriter. This is the machine that William Barry Owen became fixated upon and convinced the Gramophone interests to distribute because he had convinced himself that the Gramophone was a passing fad. This is the typewriter in 'Gramophone and Typewriter Company'.

Hi John

Close, it was the Lambert typewriter that Owen thought he would hedge his bets on in case the Gramophone fad passed.

see here last sentance
http://www.typewritermuseum.org/collect ... ert&cat=ks

Here at the 1900 entry
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Gramophone_Co

Lambert machines produced by Gramophone and Typewriter Company are identical to the Lambert model except that the G & T logo can be found on one of the nickel pieces at the top left of the machine