The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi folks,

This past weekend was a personal milestone for yours truly, and I thought I should get off my duff and post a few pictures of the Saturday preceding the Wayne show: a visit to the Edison National Historical Site Park. In case any of you aren't aware, the third floor is now open and well worth the special trip to see the incredible collection they have stored up there, including the restored music room!

(I'm the fat good-looking guy, the other good-looking guy is George)

The pictures progress through the front entrance, past Vault 8, building 11, a picture from the doorway of the Chemical Laboratory, and then into the Main Laboratory first floor heavy machine shop.

Enjoy!

Fran

The Tour continued...

Now, on to the second floor (light) machine shop:

Enjoy!

Fran

The Tour continued...

Now, on to a few of the third floor displays (apparently I was too dim to actually remember to take pictures of the music room) :

Enjoy!

Fran

The Tour continued...

A few more outside pictures, including the only large production building left standing and a reconstruction of the "Black Maria".

Enjoy!

Fran

Well the "fat good-looking guy, the other good-looking guy" as you call them Fran are both pretty normal phonofanatics! After all we need a little heft to move those floor models around!

I'm very jealous of not being able to join you on your tour. I did the same tour a few years back and also got to tour the music room.

Thanks very much for posting!

Thank you for posting these images. I haven't been to the Edison site for years and it appears as though they have opened up some new areas. Ill have to get back soon.

It was also a pleasure meeting you at the show and I look forward to seeing you at each one from now on.

John

I've said it here before, but it was my 3rd grade trip to the Edison site and the demonstration of a cylinder machine that got me very interested in antique phonographs. I'll have to plan another trip there soon!

Thanks for the tour, Fran! I don't know as I'll ever see the place, so it's nice to see your pictures. The machine shop really takes me back to one I worked in in a 19th-century factory building as a kid. So similar in so many ways, right down to the worn floors and the grey paint on the bottom part of the walls. It looks like the Edison crew might come back from lunch and resume work at any moment. Either that or I might!

Are those two console models that are in the last photo from the music section some that were never produced? I don't recogonize the grills but the one looks like a prototype
London but with different grills. I also don't recall those grooved looking legs in the machine behind it.

Larry

I'm happy you guys like the pictures!

I literally lost my mind here! I couldn't help but be stunned and amazed by all I saw and experienced. I can't wait to go back again someday to tour Glenmont Estate!

John, it was nice meeting you and so many others whose names I had heard or seen in various places over the past year or two!

What a fantastic weekend it was!

Fran