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Just saw this curious looking machine on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Survivor-US-U-S ... 35c43faeb9

Is this machine a Frankenphone (combination of several others)????
Thanks,
Gene

I am no expert on American machines, but this one looks "right" to me.

The twin reproducers, one for two minute cylinders and the other for four minute, were a feature of machines produced by the U.S.Phonograph Company of Cleveland, Ohio.

I am sure I have seen a thread on this make elsewhere on the forum.

Completely genuine. The United States Phonograph Co. was a serious rival to Edison and Columbia - their records were equal in quality and possibly superior. The machines were very innovative, though the big combination reproducer can develop major pot metal issues. Edison sued them over patent infringement & they folded.

I've seen several external horn machines made by the US Phonograph Co in person, but didn't realized that they made a cylinder machine in an enclosed case with an internal horn similar to an Amberola.
Is this a machine worth collecting?
Thanks for the information.
-Gene

gemering wrote:I've seen several external horn machines made by the US Phonograph Co in person, but didn't realized that they made a cylinder machine in an enclosed case with an internal horn similar to an Amberola.
Is this a machine worth collecting?
Thanks for the information.
-Gene

Absolutely worth collecting, particularly for advanced collectors that want diversify beyond the usual Edison and Columbia stuff. I have one of those internal models, the Rex. I understand that fewer than 2,000 of any model were made. The Rex more resembles an Amberola 30 and does not have the complicated pot metal reproducer mechanism. It used the same needle for 2 or 4 celluloid cylinders; okay for celluloid, BUT, do not play wax cylinders on one!

Here is another US Phonograph of a different style. I passed on buying it because of the usual reproducer problems plus high price. It has a different type of switching knob than the one on eBay, so I can't say which is correct. I'm interested in them, but I'm no expert.