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Thanks to George and his help I am able to say without a doubt that I have purchased an
Edison Standard B.

I was pleasantly surprised on how nice it is and how well it runs.
I am bummed that the K reproducer is missing the 2 min stylus.
I will need to get that fixed.

It came with some cylinder records, some pamphlets and a huge 30 x 16 witches hat horn.
It's all in pretty good shape. The bottom wood base of the player is split in two places but I think that can be fixed pretty easy. No rust, that is a good plus.
It sounds like I will need to get a C reproducer though.


Here are some pics.
I know it's the every day Standard B but I sure am tickled with it.

It was a bittersweet exchange though. The gal told me it was her parents and the last time she really looked at it was 50 years ago..and it's been in storage since then. She now needs to part with the things she has saved through the years for financial reasons. She stated her son was not interested in any of what she saved and wonders now why she spent the energy into saving "things". The place she was living in sold to be torn down. Now she has to take the time to sell things and hope to make some cash. She cried as I handed her the cash for the player.
I gave her a long hug...offered to play it for her..she declined as she said it would hurt to much to hear it. I hope for the best for her.

I'm pretty sure her parents picked this up at a estate sale. It's tagged like it was and the booklets have 50cents marked on them. She said she never heard it played even though her Dad showed it to her 50 years ago. I'm guessing maybe he didn't know how to run it. Or maybe he intended to sale it but never
managed to do so. I really shouldn't speculate.
In any case the player is in very good condition.

Thanks again George for helping me figure this one out.
If I'm right I need the C reproducer for this because this is a 2 min player...right?
And a strong crane to hold up that horn...lol.

Iva

You're very welcome, Iva.

Your machine is indeed a 2 minute player, but you don't really need to get a Model C Reproducer for it. Just have the 2 minute stylus replaced on your Model K Reproducer - - if it needs it. You might want to post a couple of clear closeups of the underside of your Model K just to be sure.

Finally, at least one of your cylinder records is a 4 minute example. You don't want to try playing any 4 minute cylinders on your machine. There's another informative article on the APS web site called Basic Antique Phonograph Operational Tips, and you can find it here:

http://www.antiquephono.org/basic-antiq ... onal-tips/

Careful, unhurried reading of this article and its photos will help you use the proper records and reproducers.

George P.

Congratulations, Iva! It looks like a nice example that should fix up well. And a hat-tip to George for his willingness to help with the acquisition!

It's always interesting to learn the backstory of a machine; it can add so much to the appreciation of the phonograph's history. This one's story really is bittersweet, as you said, but I hope you'll print out what you've written here about it and keep it with the machine for future generations to know about. I join you in wishing the best to the seller. It seems that many older folks are in similar positions, being short on cash and needing to sell things that they'd hoped would be passed on through their families, only to be met with a lack of interest there. I'm glad, though, that this machine has found a good new home with you. I hope you'll enjoy it for many years to come.

Iva wrote:I know it's the every day Standard B but I sure am tickled with it.Iva

Although they were made in great numbers, the Model B in its two minute configuration is one of Edison's best, quietest-running, most bullet-proof machines. (However, you should not shoot one.) You have a very nice example. It will sound great using that nice horn.

Regards,
Martin

Very nice outfit ! Is the black part of the horn a fabric jacket ? I have a 30" Hawthorne & Sheble "silk-finish" horn that I use when I want to impress company...

I also have a two-minute Standard B ( not quite as nice as yours), and it is indeed a sweet-runnning machine !


Enjoy !

Thank you for the replies,

George,

I admit when I googled for help with identifying the machine..I just looked at the one page.

I'm glad you posted this other link because it may answer some other questions I had about identifying the difference between a 2 min and 4 min cylinder.

I'll be reading up on that in a bit.
I have read up enough on the cylinders to know not to play certain ones with certain reproducers.

I admit...I did play a 4 min cylinder on this machine..because I only have a 4 min reproducer.
I don't think the speed difference would damage the cylinder.
I can adjust the speed under the bed plate when I understand that a bit more to know which way to adjust.
Or maybe once it's set one isn't supposed to adjust it? So much to learn...lol...I love this stuff.
I also understand that the speed control was moved to under the plate because all cylinders changed to being made to 160 RPM so adjustments wouldn't need to be made after a certain date.

(see I have done some reading...(heh)

So back to the reproducer and why I played the 4 min cylinder. I had to try the 4 min cylinder because the K reproducer is broken.
It's missing the 2 min stylus. I was more concerned about ruining a 2 min record with the 4 min stylus.

I also have a H reproducer...however same issue, as you know it's a 4 min reproducer.

I was kind of hoping this player I just picked up would of had the C reproducer so I could play some other records that I have. I only have 3 - 4 min cylinders in the 20 I have.

However I'm excited that it came with the K reproducer....once I get it fixed. It will be nice to have.
My other player will play 2 and 4 min cylinders...but I only have the H reproducer for it.

I'll post a picture of the reproducer soon.

Thanks again

Iva

martinola wrote:

Iva wrote:I know it's the every day Standard B but I sure am tickled with it.Iva

Although they were made in great numbers, the Model B in its two minute configuration is one of Edison's best, quietest-running, most bullet-proof machines. (However, you should not shoot one.) You have a very nice example. It will sound great using that nice horn.

Regards,
Martin

hello Martin,

Very nice to meet you!! and what a wonderful site you have set up for those of us lost in the many styles of players to go through.
I was pretty sure it was a Standard B but for someone like me it has to be staring me in the face to make sure...hahaha.
I still have to figure out a make shift horn holder. Someone added a wood crane holder on the back which I want to remove. It's hideous IMO.

Iva

De Soto Frank wrote:Very nice outfit ! Is the black part of the horn a fabric jacket ? I have a 30" Hawthorne & Sheble "silk-finish" horn that I use when I want to impress company...

I also have a two-minute Standard B ( not quite as nice as yours), and it is indeed a sweet-runnning machine !


Enjoy !

Hello Frank,
It has a matte finish on it now. I'm pretty sure it's been repainted though.
I was shocked to see how nice the horn is too. Not many dents although it must have seen some bad times.

It has some damage to it that has been repaired very nicely. It had about a 5 inch cut in the side that was repaired and covered over.
There's an orange paint under it...I'm guessing some sort of primer. But I do like the matte look on it.

Iva

Edit to say: I didn't paint it..it was that way when I got it.

Cody K wrote:Congratulations, Iva! It looks like a nice example that should fix up well. And a hat-tip to George for his willingness to help with the acquisition!

It's always interesting to learn the backstory of a machine; it can add so much to the appreciation of the phonograph's history. This one's story really is bittersweet, as you said, but I hope you'll print out what you've written here about it and keep it with the machine for future generations to know about. I join you in wishing the best to the seller. It seems that many older folks are in similar positions, being short on cash and needing to sell things that they'd hoped would be passed on through their families, only to be met with a lack of interest there. I'm glad, though, that this machine has found a good new home with you. I hope you'll enjoy it for many years to come.

Hi Cody,
I do plan to just that print it out.
I went back and forth about posting the experience of getting the player because it really isn't a "happy ending" kind of feeling. But it is the "history" of the machine and I decided to go ahead and put it out there.

Meeting her was a bit of an eye opening experience for me in what some folks are faced with. I hope to never be in that position. God bless her.

Iva

Hi Iva.

Even though we talk about a "speed change" when referring to 2 minute versus 4 minute recordings, we are really talking about a change in the threads per inch of the feedscrew (which drives the reproducer along the record). The standard 2 minute record is recorded with 100 threads per inch. To get 4 minutes, Edison increased the threads per inch to 200. To do that, they had to make the grooves finer to pack more sound in the same space. That's why the 4 minute stylus is so much smaller. The motor will still turn at its same speed and the cylinder still needs to be at 160 rpm. But to get the feedscrew to turn at half of the original rate, one needs to add the adapter gears that the Edison company sold after they introduced the 4 minute record. Changing the speed of the motor won't make this a 4 minute player.

Sorry if I'm covering what you already know. Once you get over the early technological hump, you'll really enjoy playing your machine. Of all of the cylinders that Edison made, I think the 2 minute cylinders (in good condition) sound the best.

Best wishes for a happy New Year!
Martin

PS: Let's see what they did to the back of the machine. Maybe somebody here will have a good idea of how to put it back right. - MK