Edison A-80 - Nashville Nightingale Miff Mole & Red Nichols

[FellowCollector]

I don't generally talk much about the internal horn disc phonographs in my collection but in this case I thought I would make an exception and share a few pictures here as well as a link to a recent video I posted of this on my YouTube channel since it is in remarkably good original condition. The model A-80 Edison Disc Phonograph released in late summer 1912 possessed a lovely cabinet but, alas, it suffered from several design flaws that would result in its demise in favor of the somewhat improved model B-80. First, it was heavy, VERY heavy for a table model phonograph. It also possessed an incredibly awkward method to raise, lower and position the reproducer stylus on the record surface. I cannot imagine why Edison permitted such a ludicrous, awkward tonearm positioning design to make it into production. The A-80 possessed a fairly weak, single spring leather belt driven motor that was unique to the model A-80. The belt driven motor typically did not maintain an even speed resulting in an annoying slow-fast-slow-fast playback of the recording. The turntable brake was only effective in stopping the turntable alone while the motor continued to turn the leather belt "burning" and stretching its way around the stopped turntable pulley! Incredible! The model A-80 sold only several thousand units when it was "quietly" replaced with the model B-80 which sold in much higher numbers. In spite of all of the faults of the model A-80 I'm pleased to tell you that this completely original example here plays as sweet as any Edison Diamond Disc phonograph that was ever made. All that I have done is lubricate the bearings and gears and replace the original stitched leather belt with a new one. I'm guessing that this one was used very little by the original owners who likely were disappointed with their purchase. The record being played is "Nashville Nightingale" recorded almost 90 years ago today by the Charleston Seven featuring a young Red Nichols on trumpet and Miff Mole on trombone.

Here is a link to the video I posted on my channel a couple of hours ago. I do enjoy sharing with my viewers some intro information so those who don't care for that sort of stuff feel free to skip past it to the audio portion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2zZ1K ... taWXXFWoVQ

If you have an an Edison A-80 I would enjoy hearing from you as well as seeing and hearing yours play.

Doug

[Phonofreak]

Thank for posting the video. You are lucky to have one of these machines that perform well. Like you said, these early machines were plagued with problems. Here is my observation: Around this time, Edison came out with the Amberola V. It was an advanced machine that was geared drive, and no belt to fiddle around with. It is a truly reliable machine. Why Edison had this crazy system is beyond me. Both machines sold for $80.00. Also, the cabinets were very similar. I was always curious as to why Edison came up with this design.
Harvey Kravitz

[FellowCollector]

Why Edison had this crazy system is beyond me. Both machines sold for $80.00. Also, the cabinets were very similar. I was always curious as to why Edison came up with this design.

Thanks for your comments Harvey. My guess as to the reasoning for Edison's belt drive design for the new Edison disc models was to keep motor production costs low. The motors for these early Diamond Disc phonographs were fairly simple...inadequate and prone to speed issues for certain...but pretty simple compared to the later motors. I'm reminded of the Edison model D, E, and F cylinder phonograph models with their open ended mandrels. It was a great idea to save production costs by eliminating the swing gate and its stanchion...and using an inexpensive, easy to cast pot metal bearing. Within a number of years the bearing swelled up tighter than a banjo string leaving the confused customer with an unusable phonograph. With these early belt driven Edison disc phonographs one of the most annoying aspects to me is stopping the turntable with the brake only to hear the motor continuing to drive the poor leather belt around the stopped turntable pulley while trying to remove the current record and replace it with another! Yes, hindsight is 20/20 as they say but the concept of trying to stop a belt driven motor using a turntable brake is sheer fantasy and totally illogical. With Edison's belt driven cylinder phonographs the stop lever stopped the spinning governor disc. Makes perfect sense and it worked! But stopping a belt driven motor by applying a brake to an 80 rpm spinning turntable was crazy. I'm stunned that this brake design continued with the model B-80 as well! I have several Edison model B-80's (and one other A-80 in mahogany in my collection) and, while I truly enjoy the "look" of these early Diamond Disc phonographs I'm amazed that they sold at all, especially the model B-80 which sold in respectable numbers!

Doug

[edisonplayer]

I remember seeing an A-80 years ago,but it was in mahogany.edisonplayer

[Phonofreak]

Doug, I forgot to mention how loud your A-80 is. With such a small horn, I'm amazed of the loudness and clarity.
Harvey Kravitz

[FellowCollector]

I remember seeing an A-80 years ago,but it was in mahogany.

This is the first and only Edison A-80 I have seen/owned in oak. My other A-80 is in mahogany but it has remained in storage for the last 15 years. It's not nearly in the same condition as this one. I also have an Edison B-80 in oak and two mahogany Edison B-80 phonographs, both in good original condition and one of them has the matching record cabinet. They're interesting machines in spite of their motor design flaws.

I liken the Edison model A-80 (and to some extent the B-80) to the Amberola VI model A phonographs which possessed very noisy motors almost from the very start - although for the most part the model A Amberola VI motors continued to run smoothly in spite of their excessive noise.

Doug, I forgot to mention how loud your A-80 is. With such a small horn, I'm amazed of the loudness and clarity.

The Edisonic reproducer I used is the reason for the improved sound on my A-80 here. This is without a doubt the finest sounding Edison Diamond Disc disc reproducer I have. It was rebuilt by the late Bob Waltrip who did exceedingly fine work on Edison Diamond Disc reproducers. My A-80 here came with its original early style (with the screwed on stylus bar shoulder plate) nickel DD reproducer.

Doug

[Valecnik]

That's definitely the nicest A80 I've ever seen. Congratulations!

[FellowCollector]

That's definitely the nicest A80 I've ever seen. Congratulations!

Thanks Bruce. It always refreshing (and exciting!) to find a phonograph that has been used very little and very well cared for. And to find that it plays as sweetly as it looks is always a bonus!

Doug

[Lucius1958]

Very nice! My first DD machine was also an oak A-80 (dark finish, though - serial # 1865).

It's pretty impressive that it handles the entire disc through without any audible speed loss: mine tends to droop towards the end of longer discs.

BTW, my machine is missing the upper grille/ motor plate cover: would it be possible to get some measurements & drawings (including the cutouts, the thickness, and the moulding profile; plus whether the grille is solid or laminated), so that I might have a reproduction made from Gramps?

Bill

[FellowCollector]

Very nice! My first DD machine was also an oak A-80 (dark finish, though - serial # 1865).

It's pretty impressive that it handles the entire disc through without any audible speed loss: mine tends to droop towards the end of longer discs.

BTW, my machine is missing the upper grille/ motor plate cover: would it be possible to get some measurements & drawings (including the cutouts, the thickness, and the moulding profile; plus whether the grille is solid or laminated), so that I might have a reproduction made from Gramps?

Bill

Thanks for your comments, Bill. I would be happy to try to help you in any way that I can with dimensions and so forth for my A-80 top grille so that you may be able to reproduce the top grille on yours. We can talk more offline.

Doug