The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here's a progress report on my Amberola 1-A. Thanks to James (Roaring20s), I was able to buy a complete mahogany 1-A cabinet that was advertised on craigslist. I bought the cabinet from the granddaughter of the original owners. She lives in what started as a summer cabin near the ocean not far from Santa Cruz. I believe the machine spent the last one hundred years at that location. Unfortunately, the mechanism was discarded and the empty cabinet was stored in the basement for decades. When I received the cabinet the drawers were really stuck and the grill would not come out.

Once the cabinet was in my possession, I followed up on a lead for the mechanism and reproducer. Years ago I was at a collectors home and he showed me a cut off Amberola 1-A. I made a generous offer over the phone based on my twenty year old memory. I imagined a functioning machine in working condition. Unfortunately, my memory was faulty. It didn't help that the cabinet has spent the last twenty years in an out building. The owner must have seen the disappointment in my face and said there was another mechanism in the attic. I had rotator cuff surgery about five weeks prior to this visit but I was not going to be that close to a 1-A mechanism without taking a look. So, up in the attic I climbed. That mechanism proved to me a nice 1-A mechanism for a mahogany cabinet. I sweetened my offer and strong armed that mechanism out of a treddle sewing machine. I headed home with two 1-A mechanisms, cabinet parts, and an "M" reproducer.

I sent the reproducer to Steve Medved for repair. The only missing piece of the puzzle was the missing small end of the horn where it connects to the mechanism. David (drboruff) provided that piece. I shouldn't be too long before my 1-A is making music.

My shoulder is better so I've made recent progress on my 1-A. I was able to get one drawer open far enough to reach the limit brackets. Once one drawer was out, it made it easier to get the others. Many thanks to the suggestions given in the "Tips" section of the Forum. There were no great discoveries in the drawers but I was pleased by a couple of finds. The little yoke piece with the brush that cleans the cylinders while it plays was in the bottom of the cabinet. Also, there was a damaged spot on front corner of the cabinet. I was delighted to find that sliver of wood in the bottom of the cabinet.

I did find record sleeves for the following cylinders. If you have a copy of Blue Amberol cylinder 1524, 1590, 1798, 1966 or 1832 and would like the record sleeve, send a PM with your address and I'll send it to you.

Hi Jerry,
It is looking good!! Any pictures of the upper works?
Pete

I admit to not enjoyed spring servicing and repair so I'm having Cliff (CDBPDX) service the upper works. He reported that it was purring along nicely. I'll post more photos as I move along with the project. Thanks, Jerry

I just received an email from Cliff and he posted to youtube "Edison Amberola 1A Motor - Smooth as Silk". Thanks Cliff!

Jerry,
Looks great!
Congratulations on two great finds (the cabinet and the works.)
Hopefully you'll have her back together and playing cylinders before Oregon Univ. takes the field against Oregon State.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Gene

Jerry, congratulations on assembling all the pieces of the puzzle. It looks like you will have a great machine. I hope you will continue posting pictures, and perhaps a video of it playing when it is all done.

I hope every year that Santa will bring me a 1A on his sleigh, but alas not so far.

Clay

Jerry,
What are these doohickeys

Steve

When I bought the cabinet, the casters were missing and replaced with glides just like these. I tossed the ones I removed but these were inside. Jerry

I searched for CDBPDX's YouTube post but could not find it.
Can you add the link.

James.