The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Offered for sale is a nice Columbia Eagle Graphophone Model BX. The mechanism is in great shape showing little wear. All of the gears look good and it runs smoothly. The Oak base is unusual without a Data Plate in the upper right hand corner. There are no holes so it never had one. The lid shows normal wear and is not great but intact and sturdy. Note it doesn't have (and never did) a small decal on the back. I don't know how to date it without a nameplate, maybe some sharp eyes can help out. It has some numbers stamped on the base at the rear. See image below. It also doesn't have a tag at the end of the mandrel and doesn't appear to have ever had one. It is missing the belt cover. The original Eagle Reproducer has a new stylus and diaphragm. If a horn is needed I can offer a 10" black cone or a 10" nickel horn at additional cost. Shipping will be actual cost with required insurance. Please, no PayPal but checks or money orders are welcome. More pictures available upon request.
Thanks, Joe Filer

This machine is not a BX, but a B. It also appears to have originally been sold as a $10.00 Eagle (without the case), and the $2.00 case, available separately, was later added. This is a scarce configuration, as the vast majority of Eagles were sold with cases (for $12.00).

Eagles with serial numbers below about 146,000 never had mandrel tags. Many collectors mistakenly add these to early production machines, but it's the mark of later diddling.

As for dating, the numbers stamped on the rear edge of the metal base will be the serial number, and these started at 80,000. This machine will number somewhere between 80,000 and approx. 146,000. 80,000 was manufactured around August 1897, and No.146,000 was reached about a year later.

All this information, photos, and much more was published recently in The Antique Phonograph.

George P.

George, thanks for the information. Here is a pic of the serial number on the back edge. Actually 2 pics, one with flash as it is hard to read. After studying through a loupe, I cannot decipher the first character, but looks like the top half of a "A"? followed by 4582. I will try to get a better photo tomorrow.


thanks, Joe

My guess is that it's "84582" or "94582." Either way, it's early production.

George P.

pm sent

Hi

I have one of these eagles, it has no serial number on it anywhere.

It has the plate on the mandrel.

Regards Marcel