The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

After 20 years of collecting and many machines, I just purchased my first GEM.
The machine looks to be all original including the 10 inch cone horn.
Is there an easy way to identify an original horn from a repro. other than obvious signs of age?
I am missing one of the 4 bolts and washers that attach the machine to the base.
Anyone have an extra original?
I'll post in the Yankee Trader as well.
Lastly, what do you GEM owners use to clean the black body of these machines?
I used GoJo on the wood base with good results.
Thank you for your comments.
Have a Blessed Holiday Season!
-Gene

Hi Gene, I use WD40 on my gem bodies,anything else I've used made them go whiteish in places and dull.I spray it on a rag and wipe the body and then wipe it off with a clean rag.HAPPY CHRISTMAS Gordon.

The small end of a 10" cone horn should be crimped and not a second small piece of metal attached to the cone. To the best of my knowledge, none of the reproductions have the crimped end. It's not this simple with the 14" witches hat horns where the better quality reproductions do have a crimped end. Jerry Blais

Gene,

Nice looking Gem! Your horn is indeed original (I believe manufactured by Tea Tray Co.), and is the type originally supplied with the Gem. Graphophones seem to have been supplied with 10" cone horns featuring a separate straight ferrule soldered on the small end, as opposed to the Tea Tray product whose ferrule was formed by stamping the metal into shape, making a 1-piece horn.

GoJo will clean your Gem's black body and will not harm the pinstriping. Once clean and dry, a coat of wax (plain old paste wax - not car wax) should bring up a nice shine.

According to its serial number, your Gem left the factory in October 1906.

Congratulations! Gems are fun, and non-collectors seems to like them too!

George P.

Try Meguiars Scratch X 2.0 on the black. You will be pleasantly surprised....

I have used it on all of my finest machines. Keep cotton rag moist and always go slow. It has been proven to be real safe with the pin stripe. Works great on everything but the wood parts.

Gojo or Goop will also clean metal. I would finish that by polishing with the Meguiar's product or rottenstone and oil, then applying a paste wax and buffing.

Try the X 2.0 first in a small area. A good chance you will find nothing else is needed except a nice finish with car wax.

Here is a B4 and after pic......

That is a real nice Gem!

Thank you to all who've replied.
As always, the advice is greatly appreciated.
-Gene

You learn something every day. I always thought the only difference between Columbia and Edison 10" cone horns was the length of the crimped small end. I didn't realize Columbia added the small end to the cone. Thanks for teaching an old dog something new. Jerry