The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here's a rare one. I have a nice cabinet for the rather excessively rare (only three complete examples known to exist, according to Rene Rondeau) Hexaphone Model 101. This is the oak cabinet with vertical bars in the grille and a domed- or curved-glass lid, as contrasted to the later lattice-style grille with a flat glass lid.

You can read about the early 101 on Rene's page about them, here: http://edisontinfoil.com/hexaphone101.htm

The flat glass/lattice grille version is shown on page 137 of "Discovering Antique Phonographs" by Fabrizio & Paul. The caption seems to imply that the mechanisms are interchangeable between the two cabinet styles.

This one is missing its mechanism. Someone replaced it with that from a Standard D, but retained the original horn. It is also missing its lid - both the frame and curved glass, the back, and the little wooden signboard at the top rear edge of the cabinet. There is also one small bit of straight side molding missing. But the carved grille is intact (including the wire screen behind it), the Regina decal on the little front door is in decent shape, and overall the cabinet is in pretty good condition.

This would be perfect for anyone with a poor cabinet or a stray Hexaphone mech, or a mech in an incorrect cabinet. The experts will be able to chime in on interchangeability and the like.

Here are some pictures.

Added one more picture.

Peter, a price would be nice, to see if it's something to inquire about... obviously you know that the mechanism is a needle in a haystack at best.

Curt A wrote:Peter, a price would be nice, to see if it's something to inquire about... obviously you know that the mechanism is a needle in a haystack at best.

Fantastic but I think you would first have to find the haystack to start with and then look for the needle!!
But you never know what is around.
I hope someone has the parts for it.

My understanding is that if someone had a 101 in the more commonly-found cabinet, he could transfer the mechanism into this one and it would be correct. It's definitely a rare cabinet.

George P.

It could be considered correct if the serial number of the donor machine is below 200 or so. It is known that the change from rounded lid to flat lid occurred somewhere around April of 1909. But not surprisingly there was some apparent crossover -- machines were not mated to cabinets in strict chronological order. No one knows exactly where the end point might be. A flat top 101 showed up at Union 10 years ago with #160. That is within the date range that round lid machines were still being made. Anything much higher might not be correct, but it would still make for a dramatic machine.

That is an exceptionally rare cabinet.

Well, I've put it up on eBay now folks, using pricing advice gleaned from folks with more experience in this sort of item than I. Apparently the three known domed-top 101s are in the hands of someone in the southwest USA, someone in Paris, and Rene. Who wants to be #4?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/321378611192

Actually, the 3 survivors are spread out with one in Paris (formerly Aaron Cramer's), one in the southwest US (not in LA), and the other in my collection. According to Regina's production log mine was originally sold in Sacramento, just 90 miles from my location.

Thanks for the clarification, Rene!

With Union just around the corner, I've made a tentative arrangement to get the curved-top Hexaphone cabinet/horn there cheaply, if someone is interested.

Partial trades involving a Columbia Type N cylinder machine, or a tabletop Reginaphone with internal or external horn, might be fun too.

There's no rush to pass this on to its next owner, as we all recognize its specialized nature. It's safe where it is til the right time comes.

But I'm becoming a bit interested on maybe handling it myself as well. Does anyone know of a Hexaphone 101 with the flat top, but with a cabinet in terrible shape?