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I bought an Edison Home recently and have a few questions about it. The serial number is #4389 and it has a brass mandrel and Automatic Reproducer. I just received it today so haven't had a chance to clean it yet. Here are some questions I have about it followed by a picture.


1. Should this have a crank with the nickel "National Phonograph" tab? It has a slotted crank without the tab and I would like to make sure this is correct for the machine.

2. Does anyone know a date or general time frame when the nickel plated mandrels were introduced?

3. George, could you please help out with the date when this Home left the factory?

As always, thanks in advance for any information you may have!

I have home 1265 and it has a brass mandrel, lift lever holder,cast iron lower drive pulley. It would have the medallion crank,however did not come with one.

There was an article in the September 2006 issue of The Sound Box that covered in detail the variations within suitcase Home models from 1896 - 1901.

Home No.4389 left the factory about March 1898.

Nickeled mandrels replaced brass mandrels sporadically during October/November 1898.

Because cranks, especially the slotted variety, are so often lost, misplaced, or substituted, it's very difficult - if not impossible - to determine a time frame or serial number when the "National" plate was discontinued on the cranks. If the cranks were handled like other Phonograph components, the tagged version would had sputtered out over the course of weeks or months.

Hope this helps - -

George P.

Very nice find. A the last show in Wayne, NJ a Home Suitcase crank with the National Phonograph tag sold for $600.00. I was trying to buy both the machine and the crank from the gentleman but missed out. He sold the seperately for more money.

Here is a picture of a Home Suitcase I picked up in Massachusetts about a year ago. It came with everything in the picture. What is strange about the machine is it has no serial number on it, nor on the Automatic reproducer, or the Automatic recorder. The cylinders were great also. The only downside was there was no crank. If anyone has one let me know.

Rich Gordon

rgordon939 wrote:Very nice find. A the last show in Wayne, NJ a Home Suitcase crank with the National Phonograph tag sold for $600.00. I was trying to buy both the machine and the crank from the gentleman but missed out. He sold the seperately for more money.

Here is a picture of a Home Suitcase I picked up in Massachusetts about a year ago. It came with everything in the picture. What is strange about the machine is it has no serial number on it, nor on the Automatic reproducer, or the Automatic recorder. The cylinders were great also. The only downside was there was no crank. If anyone has one let me know.

Rich Gordon

Rich -

That is a really sweet outfit ! I'm quietly jealous !


Good hunting !

Very nice Homes, everybody!

Rich and edisonphonoworks - what are the last patent dates on your machines?


- Martin

phonogfp wrote:Home No.4389 left the factory about March 1898.

Nickeled mandrels replaced brass mandrels sporadically during October/November 1898.

Because cranks, especially the slotted variety, are so often lost, misplaced, or substituted, it's very difficult - if not impossible - to determine a time frame or serial number when the "National" plate was discontinued on the cranks. If the cranks were handled like other Phonograph components, the tagged version would had sputtered out over the course of weeks or months.

Hope this helps - -

George P.

Thanks, George for the information. Much appreciated and it was helpful indeed. I finished cleaning the Home today and just need to rebuild the reproducer and put the belt back on. Here are a few pictures after the "overhaul".
I am happy with how it has turned out but must admit that I too am a bit jealous of Rich's complete setup. Thanks for showing it!

That cleaned up very nicely!

George P.

What did you clean the brass mandrel with??

Tony K.

What I must say about this machine that is pretty sad is that it had a weighted feed nut on the original carriage, however it was badly rusty and pitted, another collector traded me the good working one you see, however I do regret trading, I should have restored the weighted carriage. The on off lever, rather than having its own stop pad, like later versions pushes on the speed yoke. The lower pulley is a substantial cast iron one, not pot metal. http://youtu.be/vhDiUAubfSE is the machine playing. This is 1265. The last patent date is 1893.