The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello,
I hope that there is someone out there who can help me with a question.
I have five Edison Standard Squarebox machines and have noted that there are variations in mandrel pattern.
My earliest, Serial No. 489 has a smooth nickelled mandrel with no dishing on the pulley side.
The second No.9862 (Edison Bell plated) has a brushed finish with a dished pulley.
No. 12609 also EB plated also has a brushed finish and dished pulley.
No. 19442 also brushed finish and dished puley.
No. 38595 has a bright nickelled mandrel and flat sided pulley but with a "groove" on the left of the mandrel face.
Does anyone have any information regarding the changes made to mandrel pattern, and is the bright nickelled mandrel original to such an early machine(1898). It arrived in a dirty unrestored condition, but has is had a new mandrel fitted, and if so,would you fit the correct one or leave alone as part of its history?.
Best regards,
Alistair.

I have Standard SN 271 and the mandrel is brushed. All of Edison's earlier Homes and Standards used brushed mandrels (Note: the earliest Homes were brass). I believe your mandrel was added later along with the shaving swarf box. The early Standards just had a chute style swarf arrangement. See pics....


Personally, I would make the changes back to the original equipment. I guess depending on how you are representing your machines decides that.

Oh boy, pardon the dust!!!!

P.S. Swarf chute on Ebay now, not mine...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDISON-CYLINDER ... 51ab501048

Andersun,
You learn someting new every day! I have collected phonographs for over forty years and have only seen the box type shaver on a Squarebox. I presume it is identical to the Home type?.
Speaking of which I have a Home serial No. 2092 with a nickelled mandrel. I have often thought about getting an original brass one, but to be honest the shiny one looks better (the reason it will have been changed), so I suppose I have illogical ideas about compromising authenticity.
Best regards,
Alistair.

The swarf box started appearing on the green banner Standard Model A machines and the chute style remained on the green banner Home.

Andersun wrote:The swarf box started appearing on the green banner Standard Model A machines and the chute style remained on the green banner Home.

I have always known of the chute type on the Homes, but have never associated them with the Standard. Do you know when the change was made, it must be early on as I have never seen one fitted to squarebox.
Thanks,
Alistair.

clevelander wrote: I suppose I have illogical ideas about compromising authenticity.

It's all down to personal preference. If you want to represent your machine with upgrades that previous owners added, then keep it the way it is. I usually put the machine back to original but keep all of the associated upgrades with the machine unless they are recent bogus add-ons!

clevelander wrote:Do you know when the change was made, it must be early on as I have never seen one.

My best guess is the change was made when the new cabinet style came out in 1901. The shaver was dropped on 1904 according to the Frow/Sefl book. I have never seen a suitcase Standard with the box style on it.

Most of the time I see suitcase standards with the cutter and chute removed. I think many people didn't record on blanks and had ruined titled cylinders when they put the carriage down. They removed the cutter to avoid this.

Andersun wrote:

clevelander wrote:Do you know when the change was made, it must be early on as I have never seen one.

My best guess is the change was made when the new cabinet style came out in 1901. The shaver was dropped on 1904 according to the Frow/Sefl book. I have never seen a suitcase Standard with the box style on it.

Most of the time I see suitcase standards with the cutter and chute removed. I think many people didn't record on blanks and had ruined titled cylinders when they put the carriage down. They removed the cutter to avoid this.

George Paul,
Do you have better info on the swarf arrangement on the suitcase Standards?

I stand corrected, it looks like the box went back to the two clip Standard. Here is an ad showing one with what appears to be the box style.

Andersun wrote:I stand corrected, it looks like the box went back to the two clip Standard. Here is an ad showing one with what appears to be the box style.

It looks as though I am going to have to do a bit more investigation.
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Alistair.