The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Anybody know when Amberola 1A serial number 1613 would have been made? I am guessing some time in 1910.

Clay

Although I don't have precise sales data for Amberola 1A, No.1613 would indeed have been assembled in 1910. If you care to post photos of the cabinet, I may be able to narrow it down a bit further. A 3-part article on the 1A and 1B appeared in the March, June, and September 2009 issues of The Sound Box (now The Antique Phonograph). If you have those articles (especially the September installment), you can figure it out without me!

George P.

Thanks George. I do keep the journals, but alas I only joined about 3 years ago. Here is the machine. (And yes, the grille is upside down.)

Clay

Clay,

Your cabinet looks to be one of the 500 Weber-style cabinets commissioned by Edison to be built by Pooley and originally scheduled for delivery in February 1910. However, by February, Pooley was asked to delay shipment of these cabinets. After February 15, the remaining cabinets due from Herzog were to include carved upper posts and square grilles. Your cabinet has these features, plus a round-key lock, suggesting that this is one of the 500 Pooley-built Weber-style cabinets. I think the spring of 1910 would be a close estimate of when your Amberola was assembled.

For more information, consult those 3 articles on the Amberola 1A and 1B found in the 2009 issues of The Sound Box (available here):

http://www.antiquephono.org/back-issues ... honograph/

I hope this is helpful.

George P.

Thank you so much, for the information and especially for the link to back issues and index. I checked and my issues go back to June 2011. I will be adding getting the rest to my shopping list.

Clay

Beautiful example Clay!

Valecnik wrote:Beautiful example Clay!

Thanks! I picked it up from Raphael on Tuesday and am very pleased with it. All that was necessary was some minor clean-up. It runs strong and quietly and all the numbers match. This is my first 1A and I am impressed with the sound. And somehow the mechanism, with the mandrel moving under the stationary reproducer, fascinates me.

This one has the Model L 4-minute reproducer. I plan to get a 2/4 minute model M for it eventually.

He had another one, with a beautifully restored case finish and bedplate, but the originality of this one appealed to me.

Clay

Very nice machine!!! They sound great and are beautiful.