The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I picked up this little Columbia Q last week and had a chance to dust it off today. This little fellow is really green. Does anyone have knowledge on green Columbia machines? Edison's lineup was green during most of the A series but I've only occasionally seen a green Q. Were other models also green? This machine is so clean and it takes so little space. I may have to hang on to it for a while. Jerry Blais

Nicest Columbia Q I've ever seen. You're very fortunate to own it.

Doug

Wow, Jerry, that's a beauty.

Fran

That's mint.

That is a beauty, Jerry.

In my experience, the green Qs are very late production, with the smaller "Graphophone" decal in the front and a "Milan 1906" decal in the rear of the lid. The serial number should be in the high 900,000 or low one million range.

George P.

Once again George is spot on correct. The serial number is 988860. Jerry

Jerry, that's a very nice looking Q!

The condition is unbeatable! I had one that was even more green, believe it or not. I can't believe I sold it. It's cute and small, and not worth a fortune, so I really should have kept it. Yours is much mintier. A real gem, and not in the Edison sense.

It has the St. Louis 1904 decal on the back. I wonder why Columbia would introduce a green cabinet so late. We've all seen oak furniture that dates from the same period and I don't remember ever seeing anything in green. You can see how it clashes with our oak table. Anyone have any ideas? Jerry

It is odd that they sold them so late. Edison abandoned green oak pretty early. It's hard to imagine these fitting in with late Victorian décor.

Here's the one I had. Someone went crazy with the dye that day.