Early Columbia AT Graphophone

[Phonofreak]

I have a question about the early Columbia AT. The earliest ones had a Model A style case. Did the early Columbia AT's use the same exact case as the Model A, or is this a different case to hold the AT? I have a lead with an early AT, but the case is crappy. I guess what I'm trying to ask is does the early AT mechanism fit into a Model A case?
Harvey Kravitz

[gsphonos]

It can Harvey, but you have to do some work on the cabinet! I had an A and an AT. The A bedplate was a wreck. The AT bedplate was in a little bit better condition. I had a very nice A cabinet, and wanted the machine to look good. So, I transferred the top works to the AT base (I only had one set of topworks for the 2 machines). Some topworks will be interchangeable but some will have larger screws to hold the top works on. Mine worked, so I thought everything was fine, until I went to put the machine into the cabinet. There are 2 lugs in the bottom of the bedplate that fit into the cabinet. They are at a slightly different position. Having already done the work with the top, I made it fit! Then, stupid me, I realized that the A bedplate had 2 holes in the back to align the lid to the base cabinet. The AT cabinet is more like a Home/Standard, etc. that has the lid lock eschutcheons (spelling). So, after all of this work, I realized I had really made a mess of things. I did drill 2 holes into the bedplate to line up the lid. I switched ID plates. Everything is good. Was this bad for me to make all of these modifications? Some would say yes, others would look at it as saving a phonograph.....

Missed you at the CAPS show this year. Come next year!

Mike Sorter

[Phonofreak]

Mike,
Thanks for the insight. I was thinking the same thing, too. I decided not to modify this. Eventually, I will find a nice early AT. An unforeseen occurrence happened and I couldn't make it to CAPS this year. I hope to be there next year.
Harvey Kravitz