Edison Standard Bedplate - Transitional or Special Decorated

[Crank_it_up]

I have what appears to be a Standard Model B, but look at the picture below. It has double gold striping and the data plate has been moved to the rear. Yet, it has an endgate. Serial number is in the 660000 range. Could this be a Special Decorated machine? The case has a Banner front. Bedplate is 100% original and never touched up. The decals in lower right corner show typical, if not only light wear.
Thanks for any advice.
Joe

[phonogfp]

It's not a Special Decoration (you'll know that when you see it!). The key is the serial number - - very late (probably 1909). The banner cabinet decal is not correct for a mechanism that late, and the cabinet itself should have the high base molding. Most of the time when a Model B Standard turns up with a number that high, it has an ICS repeater on it.

George P.

[De Soto Frank]

It's not a Special Decoration (you'll know that when you see it!). The key is the serial number - - very late (probably 1909). The banner cabinet decal is not correct for a mechanism that late, and the cabinet itself should have the high base molding. Most of the time when a Model B Standard turns up with a number that high, it has an ICS repeater on it.

George P.

Curiosity bids me ask: if this might be an ICS mechanism, is it missing the speed control knob above the bed-plate, as well as the repeater ?

The cabinet would be an easy swap, but the presence of the end-gate, speed-control below the bed-plate, later striping, and high (?) s/n are an "interesting" combination ?


Here is a link to an ICS Standard C [sic] that I purchased from a fellow TMF member:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... =+featured

[phonogfp]

It certainly doesn't appear to be an ICS mechanism, nor did I suggest that it is. That's what makes this particular mechanism even more interesting: it isn't an ICS machine.

George P.

[phonogfp]

It just occurred to me that this machine may not have had a high base molding. Back in the 70s, I had a Standard D No.676769 and it had the low molding. The machine came out of a house and was unmolested.

Any chance that this cabinet has been refinished with the improper decal?

George P.

[martinola]

Good observations, Frank & George! That's a regular old Standard B. As George said, a model B way up in the 660,000s that isn't an ICS machine, is pretty unusual. This is the very last of the model Bs. The majority of them were done by 640,000. I'd certainly try to match it up with a proper case. The other three I've seen in that serial range had Tall style cases with an "Edison" script decal on the front. Very cool!

Martin

[Crank_it_up]

Thanks for all of the input. Here's a shot that shows it was never drilled for a repeater. I agree the cabinet is wrong, so someone help me find the Mahogany case that it is seeking. Wouldn't that be sweet? The case must have been swapped since it does still carry the original decal, even though the finish has been re-done and even some repairs to the lid.
Martin, you have seen others in this serial number range, were any set up like this with double stripe and re-located data plate?
thanks, Joe

[martinola]

Yes Joe,

The others in this range also have the late style stripes and plate at rear. While I can't absolutely guarantee that yours had a Tall case over having a Late case, I feel it's most likely a Tall one based on the other examples. With transitional machines, the Edison company was apt to use up parts, so anything is possible.

Martin

[De Soto Frank]

It certainly doesn't appear to be an ICS mechanism, nor did I suggest that it is. That's what makes this particular mechanism even more interesting: it isn't an ICS machine.

George P.

George - I got a little over-enthusiastic with my reply - didn't mean to say that you were calling it an ICS...

I'll try to behave !


Frank