Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

[Phonofreak]

I was looking at an Amberola 30 in Craigslist in Olympia WA near where I live. For those interested, the add says Darker Oak Mission Finish Amberola 30. I don't know how to transfer links to forums or on the computer. I noticed that the Amberola 30 mechanism is housed in a DX or X cabinet. The machine and gear cover have gold striping, so that's how I know it is an early one. There is a hole in the gear cover for the speed control knob, which is missing. I looked in Frow's book to see if it was common practice to use early cabinets for an Amberola machine, but no information. Has anybody ever hear of this before? The machine does not look like a marriage. If someone can post the pictures, that will be great. I have no interest in the machine because it's been refinished, the Edison decal is crooked, the price is high, and the speed control knob is missing.
Harvey Kravitz

[barnettrp21122]

Here's the link to the listing:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/atq/3670761890.html

and some pictures:

front view lid closed.jpg (28.66 KiB) Viewed 821 times

front view lid open 2.jpg (23.86 KiB) Viewed 821 times

left side view 3.jpg (48.72 KiB) Viewed 821 times

right side view 4.jpg (48.67 KiB) Viewed 821 times

horn view with plate 5.jpg (43.04 KiB) Viewed 821 times

To me it looks like the photos are a bit elongated, making the cabinet appear a bit taller and narrower, like a DX would look. However, I think it's an Amberola 30 cabinet.
Frow's book mentions that the extra gilt application, other than the trademark, was ended in May 1915. That would date the machine between and January and May of that year.
Too bad about the refinish job.
Bob

[Lucius1958]

Here's the link to the listing:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/atq/3670761890.html

and some pictures:

front view lid closed.jpg

front view lid open 2.jpg

left side view 3.jpg

right side view 4.jpg

horn view with plate 5.jpg

To me it looks like the photos are a bit elongated, making the cabinet appear a bit taller and narrower, like a DX would look. However, I think it's an Amberola 30 cabinet.
Frow's book mentions that the extra gilt application, other than the trademark, was ended in May 1915. That would date the machine between and January and May of that year.
Too bad about the refinish job.
Bob

That lid does not look like a 30 lid to me: the molding is a bit too complicated...

Bill

[Edisone]

This was listed on ebay & sold for "best offer". Deal fell through, maybe? It's an early 30 - serial # 4307 , but I wonder if we are seeing an 'X' lid on a 30 base. All the pics I can find of 30s show the same "ogee" shaped trim at the bottom that we see on this, while all the X pics (and my 2 Xs) have more of a "scoop" shape.

http://tinyurl.com/agcsceb

[barnettrp21122]

Here's the link to the listing:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/atq/3670761890.html

and some pictures:

front view lid closed.jpg

front view lid open 2.jpg

left side view 3.jpg

right side view 4.jpg

horn view with plate 5.jpg

To me it looks like the photos are a bit elongated, making the cabinet appear a bit taller and narrower, like a DX would look. However, I think it's an Amberola 30 cabinet.
Frow's book mentions that the extra gilt application, other than the trademark, was ended in May 1915. That would date the machine between and January and May of that year.
Too bad about the refinish job.
Bob

That lid does not look like a 30 lid to me: the molding is a bit too complicated...

Bill

Bill, I think you're right about the lid, now that I've measured the early Amberola 30 and DX that I have.
My DX lid's bottom lip measures about ¾". The Amberola 30's is only ¼"
The DX lid is about ⅛" wider than the Amberola's 11", and the depth is such that it could be made to work on the Amberola 30.
Bob

[Phonofreak]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad I stayed away from it.
Harvey Kravitz