Question on Edison Operas

[flashpanblue]

Hello,
Does any one know the production numbers for the mahogany and oak Edison Operas? I am curious to know how many of each were made.
Thanks
Pete

[Jerry B.]

Does anyone have a best educated guess? About how many Operas were made and how many Idealias? Were Operas about equal between mahogany and oak? Jerry

[Valecnik]

I can only make an educated guess. Regarding the Opera, things were moving fast. The Opera was introduced at the very end of 1911 acc. to Frow. The Amberola had already been introduced a year earlier and in a little more than a year the first Diamond Discs would be available.

The Opera was not a terribly expensive machine by this time, half the price of an Amberola and horn machines were on their way out.

For whatever reason it seems like Edison set up initial runs of ~ 10,000 for the Amberolas and the early diamond discs. I mean they would order roughly that many cabinets, fill them with hardware over a period of a couple years max and then be on to the next model.

Based on all that, I'm guessing they might have anticipated a run of about 10,000 Operas, 10,000 1B's, less IIIs and less yet School Machines.

The Idelia was built on a little different model, running over a longer period in parallel with the Triumph which was technically it's equal. I struggle to see why many would have bought an Idelia at ~$125 when a Triumph could be had for ~$80-85. Still they had a much longer run so many 3-4,000 total in the various configurations?

Any opinions?

[phonogfp]

For whatever reason it seems like Edison set up initial runs of ~ 10,000 for the Amberolas and the early diamond discs. I mean they would order roughly that many cabinets, fill them with hardware over a period of a couple years max and then be on to the next model.

Based on all that, I'm guessing they might have anticipated a run of about 10,000 Operas, 10,000 1B's, less IIIs and less yet School Machines.

The initial cabinet order for the Amberola 1A was 1000. A second order to a different cabinet manufacturer was for 500 cabinets. Then followed an order for 2500 cabinets, which were used for the 1A, 1B, and A-250. Although total production for some models reached 10,000, it's not accurate to assume that single orders for "initial runs" of those numbers ever occurred. Approximately 3500 1As were built, and approximately 1500 1Bs were built.

George P.

[Valecnik]

Are you able to hazard a guess on the Operas, Idealia's based on that George or just not enough data.

[Valecnik]

Are you able to hazard a guess on the Operas, Idelias based on that George or just not enough data? Seems like such a huge expenditure to design that elaborate mechanism for a few thousand 1Bs, III's and School machines.

[phonogfp]

Are you able to hazard a guess on the Operas, Idelias based on that George or just not enough data? Seems like such a huge expenditure to design that elaborate mechanism for a few thousand 1Bs, III's and School machines.

Although its mechanism differs from the Opera, I have sales data on the Idelia from its introduction in 1907 through May 1908, and the total is less than 250 (that's about 10 months' worth of sales). I think we may safely assume that sales of the Idelia generally decreased after May 1908.

I have no sales data for the Opera, but it would be a simple matter to run a poll of Opera owners on this and other forums to determine the highest serial number. That might give a general idea of total production depending on the size of the sample. I've never owned an Opera, and haven't kept any data on them, but I don't think I've encountered a serial number in the 6000 range or above.

I would guess roughly 9000-10,000 Opera-type mechanisms were ultimately produced for the 1B, Opera/Concert, III, and School. But that's only a guess.


George P.

[JohnM]

Any idea of how many of the late maroon-painted bedplate Idelias, George? I've only ever seen one of those.

[phonogfp]

Any idea of how many of the late maroon-painted bedplate Idelias, George? I've only ever seen one of those.

No idea at all! I don't think I've seen even one...

George P.