The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I just picked up a 2 clip suitcase standard and the remains of another.
It's the remains that are the more interesting , as it is serial number S1261 and appears to have been a British export machine from new. It has no screw holes for a gear cover either.
The British licence tag has different wording to the licence tag I've seen before too.
Would anyone know the actual manufacture date?
It is in a bit of a state but worthy of some work I think.
Thanks
Steve

I cannot provide a date of manufacture, but the National Phonograph Co. sold Standard No.1261 in July 1898.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:I cannot provide a date of manufacture, but the National Phonograph Co. sold Standard No.1261 in July 1898.

George P.

Thanks George ,would it be impertinent to ask how you know?
Frow seems to suggest a February manufacturing date , although I don't know how reliable that is as other sources suggest a date of between April and June as the gear cover was introduced in June.
Even if it's June it would suggest the machine sat around for a while , perhaps to get the batch together for export?

Steve

stevel wrote:

phonogfp wrote:I cannot provide a date of manufacture, but the National Phonograph Co. sold Standard No.1261 in July 1898.

George P.

Thanks George ,would it be impertinent to ask how you know?
Frow seems to suggest a February manufacturing date , although I don't know how reliable that is as other sources suggest a date of between April and June as the gear cover was introduced in June.
Even if it's June it would suggest the machine sat around for a while , perhaps to get the batch together for export?

Steve

Not impertinent at all. I encourage all collectors to ask the source of information they receive. I have a copy of National Phonograph Co. monthly sales figures from 1897 to May 1908.

As for the gear cover, you may have read in other threads that its introduction was somewhat gradual, appearing in fits and starts over a period of months before becoming a consistent feature.

George P.

When was Standard No. 43 sold?

Starkton wrote:When was Standard No. 43 sold?

The first month of Standard sales: April 1898.

George P.

Starkton wrote:When was Standard No. 43 sold?

Isn't that in the Deutsches Museum?

Steve

Yes, some years back we already discussed about this early Standard in the Deutsches Museum, but I believe I didn't ask George for the date of sale. Your request reminded me to it.

Starkton wrote:Yes, some years back we already discussed about this early Standard in the Deutsches Museum, but I believe I didn't ask George for the date of sale. Your request reminded me to it.

Ah , I see. I thought for a moment they'd sold it which struck me as odd for a museum!
Steve