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Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:05 pm
by 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

Re: Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 6:59 pm
by 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 closed.jpg (28.66 KiB) Viewed 822 times
front view lid open 2.jpg
front view lid open 2.jpg (23.86 KiB) Viewed 822 times
left side view 3.jpg
left side view 3.jpg (48.72 KiB) Viewed 822 times
right side view 4.jpg
right side view 4.jpg (48.67 KiB) Viewed 822 times
horn view with plate 5.jpg
horn view with plate 5.jpg (43.04 KiB) Viewed 822 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

Re: Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 1:37 am
by Lucius1958
barnettrp21122 wrote: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

Re: Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 2:38 am
by 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

Re: Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 8:51 am
by barnettrp21122
Lucius1958 wrote:
barnettrp21122 wrote: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

Re: Amberola Machines in Early Cabinets

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:17 am
by Phonofreak
Thanks for the replies. I'm glad I stayed away from it.
Harvey Kravitz