The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Well here's one for the phonograph collector. I have never seen this before, hopefully it's not made of wood. If anyone is seriously interested and going to the Wayne show I may be able to pick it up for you. It wouldn't go over well with my townhouse association. I'm guessing this is the best place to post this. And yes I have tried to get in touch with him already. Waiting on a response

http://reading.craigslist.org/atq/5484618777.html

It's

I've seen one of these, or one very similar in my memory at least, at the Reading Coal Company's (formerly Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. of Mollie Maguire fame) anthracite breaker (demolished) at Locust Gap, PA. It's an anthracite burner (also will burn wood and soft coal) and will have a shaker grate, without which you can't burn hard coal. Note the draft adjustment in the inner door (marked Pennola) behind the upper doors (the "horn doors," as it were) to admit draft air overtop of the coals, also necessary to burn anthracite. The upper, inner door is also the feed door, where the stove is stoked. Behind the lower doors will be the draft adjustment for admitting air beneath the coals, and also the ash pan and the shaft for the handle to shake the grate. Anthracite burns from the bottom, which is why you need the shaker grate to get rid of the ashes, otherwise the fire will choke off. All doors need to be airtight, to concentrate the draft. If the firebox is lined with refractory brick, so much the better; this prolongs the life of the firebox by protecting it from the extreme heat of the fire. Anthracite is hard to light, but once you get it going it gives off a beautiful, even blue flame over the glowing red coals, and will hold a fire all night if properly tended. I owned (and used!) an anthracite stove for home heating for about ten years back in the '70s-'80s. Coal was cheaper than oil then, and home heating oil was 18¢ (that's right, eighteen cents!) a gallon in 1970, although the price went up during the first "Arab oil crisis" in the '70s, which is why I bought a coal stove. A significant part of the cost of coal lies in the transportation of it, so proximity to the source is a practical factor. It makes sense for folks in eastern PA to use it, and some still do, for home heating.

One thing's for sure, using a Victrola is a lot less trouble than an anthracite coal stove. Sounds better, too.

Instantly converts even the stodgiest Homer Rodeheaver records to hot jazz?

Never mind, I'll show myself out...

I wonder if Victor sued them over the doors...

Thanks to DGPros for the original post about this bizarre, intriguing item, and thanks to Henry for explaining in detail how it works.

I certainly would have liked to have met the interesting character who not only dreamt up the notion of having a coal-fired stove mimic a Victrola, but actually saw it through to production!

I must say, a Victrola that can only burn shellac records, but not play them, seems like something from Dante's Inferno, updated to the early 20th century.

Best wishes, Mark

Interestingly enough, I have the ORIGINAL dealer cast-iron-clad album set that went with this! Here are the discs, in the 10 sleeve album:

1. Red Hot Henry Brown
2. Fire! Fire!
3. Red Hot Momma
4. Coal Man Blues
5. A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
6. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
7. Keep the Home Fires Burning
8. Hot Hot Hottentot
9. Uncle Josh and Aunt Nancy Put up the Kitchen Stove
10. Santa Claus Hides in your Ash Pan

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

What, no "Midnight Fire-Alarm" ?

American Restoration could probably make that into a one of a kind working cast iron phonograph...

Maybe this would be a good needle to use in it!

There was a stove that looked like a phonograph called a Heatrola that I heard about.edisonplayer