The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've been scouring Craigslist quite a bit lately
and have noticed lots of DD machines around my
area all within a 100 mile radius.

Some people are asking $500 to $600 for them,
but a few look to be in fairly decent shape
for much less.

There is one I am considering going to have a look at and a listen to, and maybe make an offer on. It is a London Upright LU37 Edison Diamond Disc machine.

I am not very familiar with the DD machines
so I thought I would run this past all of you
to see what opinions and knowledge about this
machine are out there.

He is asking $175 and says he is willing
to negotiate. The pics all look good but
I can't really tell until I see it.

Ideas?

Thanks,

Chuck

If I were to have only one Edison DD upright, I'd choose a C19 or C250.
As Laboratory models, they have the largest standard horn, a two-spring mechanism, and double the record storage space over the London upright. There are so many still out there, in varying condition, that it shouldn't be difficult to find one that you'd like at a reasonable price.
The London upright has a slightly smaller horn, and a one-spring motor. It's possible that if your machine is a very late one that it may have the New Standard reproducer. These have "NS" (New Standard) in the stamped serial number found on it, and had a larger rounded weight, thicker diapragm and spring-loaded stylus bar, claimed to play at 2 ½ times the volume. (I disagree)
Good luck with your search!
Bob

My honest opinion--I'm not a big fan of London Uprights or console models. Seems to me they were more cheaply made and not really attractive. Early in my days as a collector, I had an LU 37 and didn't really like it all that much. It played fine, just not an attractive machine. I'd go for one of the earlier machines and be willing to pay somewhat more...

Steve

The machine that got me back to collecting Edisons was a London Upright I got at a sale. It happened to be in great original condition. But being one who values the sound quality it was not a machine I cared to hear a lot of. The horn is simply to small and the sound is somewhat tinny compared to the larger machines. I now value the machines with the largest horn as they as mentioned have the finest sound. My S-19 which was the next purchase was a lot better but still not like the larger horn. If it were me I would keep an eye for at least a 150 or 200 horn but the 250 is the best. You might try watching the Auction Zip site for auctions that have an edison as often at sales away from major cities edison machines of the larger variety do not bring a lot. I got my J-19 for 130.00 two weeks ago and my chippendale cost me a whole 25.00 at a sale a few years back. Granted both need some tender loving care to the cabinets but for the difference in price I enjoy mine just fine.

Larry

Agree. Go for a C19/C250. They are pretty easy to find and great machines with handsome cabinets. A250s are really nice too and historically interesting, but rarer. I like my C150 also, and it is the one I probably play most often. Runs smooth as silk and sounds good.

Clay

Thanks guys!! I appreciate your knowledge of
these DD machines. I am a total newb when it comes to DD machines. They have always interested me, and I have always liked their sound. The last time I considered purchasing one
was at an antique shop in downtown Seattle
in the early spring of 1980. I do not remember
which model it was, but it sounded great! It
had a record on it titled "Valencia", and I listened to it several times there. Never made
the purchase though because the price was high
and there were the usual storage/transportation
issues...

Now, cut forward to the present time and I find
myself getting interested in these machines again. What has really piqued my interest
now is that I stumbled on to several adds
on Craigslist for them in my local area.

I was not looking for DD machines. Instead,
I am hunting up another Edison phonograph to
use here for testing blanks so I can make them
here in Florida eventually, not just up north
in Illinois. Along with that search came
some more Dictaphone machines, shavers, and
a virtual TON of Diamond Disc machines!

So, it amounts to searching for one thing and
finding another. But, what really got me
permanently hooked on the DD sound was my
visit to Steve Medved's house!! He has got
absolutely beautiful examples of many DD
reproducers and he did some sound tests for
me playing 3 different ones. I absolutely
was amazed at the Edisonic and the Dance
reproducers!

I will be looking at some of these machines.
It's nice to kind of have the heads-up about
the C19 and C250, so I am not just going in
cold knowing nothing at all.

Thanks!

Chuck