The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi folks, anyone seen one in person?

If you have one, could you post a picture of it for me?

Best,
Fran

Fran,
Where was the "No. 6" referenced?

Andersun wrote:Fran,
Where was the "No. 6" referenced?

I found this archived picture of one that sold on eBay. I've never seen any reference to an Edison version before and it got me wondering.

Fran

That battery is from the 1920s and 1930s and was for radio, ignition and all general purpose. No. 6 was an industry standard type that all the manufactures used like AAA, AA today.

Company's like Eveready shipped their battery's in these 3' containers. The container was covered with an oil cloth which was to be removed and the two wooden terminals placed on top. Then an instant window display was made. How's that for recycling..??. We use it as a plant stand... .

Andersun wrote:That battery is from the 1920s and 1930s and was for radio, ignition and all general purpose. No. 6 was an industry standard type that all the manufactures used like AAA, AA today.

Exactly, but an Edison label? Maybe rebadged?

Fran

gramophone78 wrote:Company's like Eveready shipped their battery's in these 3' containers. The container was covered with an oil cloth which was to be removed and the two wooden terminals placed on top. Then an instant window display was made. How's that for recycling..??. We use it as a plant stand... .

1925 Eveready Battery Display (1).jpg

Now, that's cool!

Fran

fran604g wrote:

Andersun wrote:That battery is from the 1920s and 1930s and was for radio, ignition and all general purpose. No. 6 was an industry standard type that all the manufactures used like AAA, AA today.

Exactly, but an Edison label? Maybe rebadged?

Fran

I would doubt that. However, you may want to ask the guys on the vintage radio forum. They would know more about these battery's... .

I remember playing with some RCA No.6 batteries when I was very young down in the basement of our home.

My Dad had several of them laying around near his workbench (He was an Electronics Test Engineer for General Dynamics and always had "cool stuff" laying around for me to get into). IIRC, he used one or two of them to power my first morse code key and oscillator for me to practice with. I was about 4 years old at the time, and he believed in starting his "HAM" apprentice young.

I also remember using one as a mock handgrenade and watching horrified as it broke into a million pieces on the basement floor. Got my rear paddled for that...

Fran

fran604g wrote:

Andersun wrote:That battery is from the 1920s and 1930s and was for radio, ignition and all general purpose. No. 6 was an industry standard type that all the manufactures used like AAA, AA today.

Exactly, but an Edison label? Maybe rebadged?

Fran

Edison manufactured many types of batteries. The Edison Storage Battery Company was located right across the street from his lab and existed from 1901 to 1972 when it was sold to Exide.