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I have a type one columbia Q graphophone from 1899, it has a few interesting things about it but the main one is the serial number, it is #318734, earlier than the earliest one recorded in the columbia book, is this one potentially the earliest columbia Q?

That's an early one, all right. I guess it has the potential of being the earliest known Q.

George P.

Kirtley,
My earliest first model Q has the serial No 344602 so yours is cetainly early. Strangely, when I checked the numbers of my other Qs, an early black enamelled base model appears to be numbered 104955.
A mistake?.
Alistair.

clevelander wrote:Kirtley,
My earliest first model Q has the serial No 344602 so yours is cetainly early. Strangely, when I checked the numbers of my other Qs, an early black enamelled base model appears to be numbered 104955.
A mistake?.
Alistair.

i beleive the black enamelled ones are the type 2's, and i think they have a different serial number run, apparently in the columbia book (i dont have one myself) it has different sections for the type 1, 2 and 3 q's, and i think each start at a different serial number.

the columbia book says the type 1 Q starts at serial# 321866., my machine appears to prove that wrong!

kirtley2012 wrote:

clevelander wrote:Kirtley,
My earliest first model Q has the serial No 344602 so yours is cetainly early. Strangely, when I checked the numbers of my other Qs, an early black enamelled base model appears to be numbered 104955.
A mistake?.
Alistair.

i beleive the black enamelled ones are the type 2's, and i think they have a different serial number run, apparently in the columbia book (i dont have one myself) it has different sections for the type 1, 2 and 3 q's, and i think each start at a different serial number.

the columbia book says the type 1 Q starts at serial# 321866., my machine appears to prove that wrong!

Thanks for that. My later Q (Marked "The Graphophone" on the enamel base) is numbered 993693.
Perhaps someone has a copy of the Columbia book and can confirm that they did start serial numbers again.
It seems a bit strange to re-start numbering on the same model.

clevelander wrote: Perhaps someone has a copy of the Columbia book and can confirm that they did start serial numbers again.
It seems a bit strange to re-start numbering on the same model.

First Style -- 321000 - 355000 & 600000-699999

Second Style & Language Phone -- 800000-1065180

Remember the data from Hazelcorn's book is over 12 years old


Chuck

kirtley2012 wrote: the columbia book says the type 1 Q starts at serial# 321866., my machine appears to prove that wrong!

This is only the lowest number which has been reported to Mr. Hazelcorn. He did not assume that serial numbers could overlap, and when he became known of a Columbia AZ (of 1904!) with serial number 320520, he determined the beginning of the serial number range of the "Q" at number 321000. Your phonograph proves that this was only a wild guess, and makes 300000 more likely.

Here are some photos of my later enamelled model Q showing the serial number.

I think Q's and B's are great machines. They are small, sound good and work well. They also have several variations.

Kirtley, it is neat to discover something new like that; especially to find the earliest known Q (at least on here.)

Cleavelander, do you know what that stamped #3 is for at the top of your photo by the gear? I never paid attention to that before and don't know if mine has that.

I have mentioned this before, but I have a strange variation of the Q, which I dubbed the "Transitional Q" because it is comprised of the nickel-plated base of the first model and the motor/governor of the second model, with a serial # in the 569,000s. My theory is Columbia sold these leftover bases to retailers, such as Sears and stamped them with their own serial number block. I say Sears because out of the 10 of these models found thus far, 3 of them were on original fancy metal bases.

http://webpages.charter.net/phonographs ... tional.jpg

Scott

phonohound wrote:I think Q's and B's are great machines. They are small, sound good and work well. They also have several variations.

Kirtley, it is neat to discover something new like that; especially to find the earliest known Q (at least on here.)

Cleavelander, do you know what that stamped #3 is for at the top of your photo by the gear? I never paid attention to that before and don't know if mine has that.

I have mentioned this before, but I have a strange variation of the Q, which I dubbed the "Transitional Q" because it is comprised of the nickel-plated base of the first model and the motor/governor of the second model, with a serial # in the 569,000s. My theory is Columbia sold these leftover bases to retailers, such as Sears and stamped them with their own serial number block. I say Sears because out of the 10 of these models found thus far, 3 of them were on original fancy metal bases.

http://webpages.charter.net/phonographs ... tional.jpg

Scott

Scott,
I have to admit I've not taken much notice of the No.3 before. My other machines have no such markings.
Does anyone know the significance of it, or the apparent anomaly in numbering?.
Alistair.