The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The Edison Amberola pictured here is coming up at a local farm auction. This is the only photo available and no description. It looks pretty rough to me but I could use some opinions from the forum members. Any idea what the model may be? Any suggestions about how much I might want to bid?

Thanks. I value any input.

John

It's an Amberola VI.

These had troublesome (noisy) motors from the beginning; the expected result of a product developed too fast and rushed to market too soon.

The original grille appears to be missing, as is the cast-iron governor cover. The stanchion that supports the sound tube, and the tube itself with the elbow are there, and the Diamond B is there. One wonders why the machine was being disassembled, if any damage was caused by this activity, and why it was left in this state.

Considering the apparent marginal condition of the finish, the missing parts, and the pig-in-a-poke nature of what you'd be getting, I wouldn't bid more than what I'd be willing to pay for a Diamond B Reproducer. Even that is an unknown entity as to its condition.

George P.

Go to the sale if they have a machine there just might be a cylinder cabinet or box or cylinder records. I have bought junker machines just for the records that they had with them. 2 years ago I bought an amberola 75 which had a copy of Let us Not Forget, 2 Roosevelt cylinders, 3 Christmas cylinders, and several 5000 series.

All of the above is good sound advice. I have a nice mahogany Amberola 50 in ready to enjoy refinished condition and I would sell it for $350. If I had a choice between a mahogany VI and a mahogany 50 in equal condition, I'd take the VI simply because it's a little more unusual. On the plus side for the 50, it was a well designed bullet proof machine that plays great. Jerry Blais

phonogfp wrote:It's an Amberola VI.

These had troublesome (noisy) motors from the beginning; the expected result of a product developed too fast and rushed to market too soon.

I have an X myself - very flimsy motor based on a Gem motor- underpowered. This one looks to be the same.