The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'll be the first to admit it... lay it out like it is... I know very little about Edison machines.

That's why when this machine came up I thought I'd bring it here for the 'enlightened ones' to educate me on
its history.

The ad provides just enough information to confuse the heck out of me, with the mention of 'Victor Talking Machine Company'.

Is it a special finish?
Is it rare?
Is it considered fashionable (matter of opinion really)?

Here's the Ad...

http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell ... Z480138719

Here's a pic from the ad...

why do you think that would be a special finish? looks like standard mahogany, with some factory-done painted-on embellishments (that are original to the machine - I can't recall the model number off-hand at the moment). and 800 seems pretty steep for this, even with the 70 to 80 records... unless you really want it, of course.

brianu wrote:why do you think that would be a special finish? looks like standard mahogany, with some factory-done painted-on embellishments (that are original to the machine - I can't recall the model number off-hand at the moment). and 800 seems pretty steep for this, even with the 70 to 80 records... unless you really want it, of course.

No, I'm not interested in buying it at all. Like I said, I know nothing about Edison machines so thought this was like a Victrola 'Japanese'
painted machine (it looked kinda black or ebony to me).

schweg wrote:http://www.mulhollandpress.com/EdisonC450.htm

Awesome website, thanks. So it's not a special finish just the way this particular machine was decorated, and it was a higher end machine.


But why the exact reference to the Victor talking Machine company in Montreal? There were never any cross sales/manufacturing was there?

But why the exact reference to the Victor talking Machine company in Montreal? There were never any cross sales/manufacturing was there?


You would have to ask the seller. Maybe they have no idea what they are talking about... . There was one of these for sale out here a few weeks ago. The seller couldn't give it away.

They're about the size of an aircraft carrier, so not everyone has the room for one. The C-450 'Adam' seems to be the most common of that Period cabinet series.

Mr Grumpy wrote:
The ad provides just enough information to confuse the heck out of me, with the mention of 'Victor Talking Machine Company'.

Inside metal plaque "Edison Shop Yonge St. Toronto"
Victor talking machine co. of Montreal Canada

The reference of the Victor Talking Machine Company of Montreal Canada probably is also on the Edison Shop dealer plate described above.
Steve

And here's another one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-1916-Antique- ... 1101420922

George P.

phonogfp wrote:And here's another one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-1916-Antique- ... 1101420922

George P.

That one was up on Craigslist Boston for a while for the same price. Nice machine but they take up a ton of room!

The Frow Book list them as Mahogany. Having seen a few of these over the years they always appeared to be a near ebony shade so it must have been one very dark mahogany they used. Personally I would like to have one but not sure if those thin legs would be prone to wobbling when wound or not? I had one of the thin legged long play machines for a while, which was ebony, it was rather shaky on its spindle type legs.

Larry