Hello,
I just thought that I would post a few pictures of my American Graphophone Model A ( Washington D.C.) with original Gutta Purcha reproducer. I bought this machine a few months ago. I got it from a collector who owned it for over thirty years. It sat in his collection just as found. He never attempted to restore it or even get it running. When I got the motor running it had a load click in it and the gear would jam up as the spring ran down a little. Turned out that the small brass gear that engages the governor had split and expanded. As they made less than 4500 of these models I was doubtful whether I would be able to find a replacement gear cluster. To make things more difficult the gear cluster from a Graphophone AT model ( which is easier to find) will not work. After trying many sources I finally had a stroke of good luck. Would you believe that George Vollema ( Great lakes Antique Phonographs) actually had the correct gear cluster sitting in a drawer. Now the motor runs good. The top bed plate had a fair bit of rust on it and I had thought of getting it re nickeled, but I promised the fellow I bought it from that I would not ruin the original finish by doing that. I ended up using diluted Brasso with a tooth brush to work out most of the rust. I then polished it with 0000 steel wool. It doesn't look too bad. I put a new Mica ( should have really been glass) diaphragm and gasket in the reproducer, fitted a leather belt and got it going. For the first time in almost 100 years it played music. What a thrill!!
I am still working on it as it will only play through about two thirds of a cylinder. Here are a few pictures.
Pete
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My American Graphophone Model A 1896
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- Victor III
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- Victor O
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Re: My American Graphophone Model A 1896
Nice Machine! I think the nickel looks great. I wish mine looked as good. Someone painted my bed plate black before I got it.
- edisonphonoworks
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Re: My American Graphophone Model A 1896
That is a nice find!!
- phonogfp
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Re: My American Graphophone Model A 1896
Very nice Type A. I'm quite partial to this model - - I have 6 of them, and they're all different.
Your example is the 4900th made of this model. Does it have a single or double mainsprings? Can't quite tell from the photo. The earliest Type As come both ways.
Congratulations - -
George P.
Your example is the 4900th made of this model. Does it have a single or double mainsprings? Can't quite tell from the photo. The earliest Type As come both ways.
Congratulations - -
George P.
- Bill Cahill
- Victor O
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Re: My American Graphophone Model A 1896

I wish I had one.
Bill Cahill
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- Victor III
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Re: My American Graphophone Model A 1896
Hello,
It only has a single spring. I really like the early look of the Graphophone line of machines. Heh George, any chance that you could post some pictures of your machines. I would love to see them!!
Pete
It only has a single spring. I really like the early look of the Graphophone line of machines. Heh George, any chance that you could post some pictures of your machines. I would love to see them!!
Pete
- phonogfp
- Victor Monarch Special
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- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:08 pm
- Personal Text: "If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will." - A. Lincoln
- Location: New York's Finger Lakes
Re: My American Graphophone Model A 1896
Sorry for the delay... Spring has really cut down on my "free" time!flashpanblue wrote:Hello,
It only has a single spring. I really like the early look of the Graphophone line of machines. Heh George, any chance that you could post some pictures of your machines. I would love to see them!!
Pete
I think I'm mistaken about having six of these. I hope so - - I can find only five of them!

George P.
- Attachments
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- This Type A Graphophone was sold by the Chicago Talking Machine Company, which ceased operations on August 1, 1897. This is the 3095th Type A manufactured, and so is an early style with "Washington" decoration on its upper casting. Compare these decorations between the three "Washington" Type As in this thread and it will become obvious that they were done freehand.
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- This Type A features a short-lived decal listing a Broadway & 27th Street New York City address. This decal succeeded the Washington, D.C. decal, and was used prior to the common decal listing 3 New York addresses. This machine sits in an exhibition cabinet which will be featured in the June 2013 issue of "The Antique Phonograph."