The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A few weeks ago a Forum friend noticed a VV-8-8 in the background of a photo I posted and he asked to see more of the machine. My wife, DeeDee, is a retired public school teacher so I've made it a point to add machines to my collection that would have been used in the classroom. Jerry Blais

A few weeks ago a Forum friend noticed a VV-8-8 in the background of a photo I posted and he asked to see more of the machine. My wife, DeeDee, is a retired public school teacher so I've made it a point to add machines to my collection that would have been used in the classroom. Jerry Blais

Oh, my! The Edison "School" is particularly interesting!

Thanks for posting your pictures, Jerry.

I was at George P's recently and heard his Credenza for the second time...amazing! I will find a Victrola Orthophonic of some type at some point, it's on my short list.

Nice machines! I picked up a really nice clean original 8-8 in September. I'd wanted one for years and basically given up hope I'd ever find one. I agree about the sound, they really DO sound great and I'm glad to finally own one!

Sean

Nice topic, Jerry!

I think these various school machines would make a nice grouping in your basement. Get right on that, will you?

George P.

As a public school teacher and coach for the past 28 years, I've been waiting to see these machines.
Very nice indeed!
I would love to own an 8-7 and 8-8 someday.
The closest I come is an 8-9, which by the way, I love to play records on!
Gene

Jerry, on your Edison school machine, did the Cygnet bell have a hanger on it like the typical one? Did Edison use a regular Cygnet bell, or was a special one made without the hanger?
Harvey Kravitz

Harvey, The horn on the Edison School machine was rather poorly repainted. The decal on the outside was painted around. I've been reluctant to repaint the horn because the decal was applied directly over the area where you would find the hanger bracket. You can see rivets that were used to cover the hanger holes. The fact that the original decal is directly over the rivets on the opposite side tells me the horn is original to the machine. The serial number, 3353, is evidence that when an order was received for a school machine, a mechanism was grabbed from the assembly line, painted black and mated with a metal cabinet. The same must have been true for the Cygnet bell. I believe they grabbed a #10 or #11 bell, filled the holes, and painted it black. What do others think? Jerry

I think I recall reading somewhere the hypothesis that the regular Cygnet bells were repurposed this way. I had never noticed the bar at the front of the Edison School cabinet that runs around the side before. I presume this is a grab bar for moving it on its casters? That poor L-door next to it...looks like the escutcheon pulled out of the wood at some point and someone marred the cabinet with the crank.

Jerry, that is your basement you keep talking about???? It is like a museum!!!! Somehow I have to get down to Albany!