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I've spotted an Imperial No. 2 and have done a bit of research on it. So it's a Columbia derivative like the Standard Model A. This machine does not have a horn, but it looks as if the Model A horn might screw in. Is that the case? Is it a rare machine? I've tried to check prices by seeing what's for sale, but only found one already sold. The machine is a bit of a drive away. I'm not hot to trot over there if this is a common machine. I'd like to know what people think. I don't fancy a six-hour round trip.

It's always better to provide pics for us members to really see what is being described. In my opinion, these machines are really no big deal and even more so when missing key parts.

Here you go. Not much of a picture. I see an elbow that looks like it may take a horn that I have.

To me the decal is VERY important - must be 100%.

The Standard Type A is a common horn machine. It must be related to Columbia like the Standard. In all my years of collecting I don't think I've seen an Imperial like you've shown. I'd bet lunch at Union that the little common Columbia screw in horn would fit just fine. Gregg Cline's decals make it possible to restore most anything. If the Imperial decal is not in his inventory, he would need a photo of a good Imperial decal and the dimensions. If the cost of the machine is reasonable, it would be a nice project. Jerry Blais

Jerry: Not sure that's what I want to hear because it's encouraging me to take a long drive. I'm already a nut case. If I do this trip I'll be certifiable. The Imperial I've seen on the web does not have that gismo on the top, which I thought was some sort of brake, but not sure. My recently acquired Standard Model A has no brake on the top either but I have seen some other models that do. Several months ago I bought the pieces to a Standard that included a horn with about 90% of the paint missing. So I have an extra horn. Sure does look like it would fit this machine.

Maybe what I'm calling a brake is a speed control?

Looks like a white-label Diamond Disc parked on top of the platter...

I think that's a combination speed control and brake. You see that style on a lot of Grafonolas. I wish our buddy, Harvey, would wade in on this machine. Do you mind telling us the asking price? Jerry Blais

This looks like a late Imperial No.2. The ones I've seen have the earlier motor with the push-pull brake and speed controls. The horns that I have seen are either red or blue with flowers painted on them. The horns are 17" long with an 8 petal 18" diameter, so they are larger than the Standard Model A horn. The reproducer, arm, and bracket are unique to this machine. I know I've seen one in one of the Compendium books. George, can you help with this? If the price is right, I'd go for it. This is a seldom seen machine. Good luck with it.
Harvey Kravitz

Harvey has described it well. There is an earlier version of the Imperial No.2 shown on page 138 of The Talking Machine Compendium. (The example in the book has a red flowered aftermarket horn.) The caption reads:

The "Imperial" was a "client" brand manufactured by Columbia after 1909. It was sold by the "D&R" (Double and Reversible) Record Company of Chicago. This firm offered double-faced discs derived first from Leeds & Catlin, then from Columbia.

The example pictured in this post is a later version incorporating the speed control developed by Hawthorne & Sheble. After that firm's demise in mid-1909, Columbia began using the design in its own machines. Finding the historically accurate horn for the Imperial No.2 could be a challenge. But you never know...!

There's an Imperial No.2 shown online here:

http://www.phonophan.com/columbiaclient.html

If this is the example you've already found (which has been sold), I wouldn't necessarily appraise the value based upon that selling price. The machine that sold is in unusually fine original condition, and the prices realized on that website are typically top retail.

George P.