The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have an Standard Edison 2 clip suitcase s/n 20000 ish. Should this be a 4 clip??? I brought the plate and case separately and am going to refinish it. I could turn it eventually into a four clip if it is too far off of accuracy for being a standard two clip, My four clip is s/n 30000 ish and finally restored. I need a bottom for the two clip. It was glued on and was lost.

Please post a photo of your 2 clip case. Thanks!

Will post pictures of the suitcase Monday 4/3/2016 I am in a different city for the weekend

I will post a couple pics of the four clip too on Monday

Tomb,
The early 20,000s were the main transition from 2 clip to 4 clip cases. There were the odd earlier serial numbers with 4 clip cases, but these could either be factory repair/replacements or collectors muddying the waters by switching out cases (as some seem driven to). If your machine is under 22000, then a 2 clip case is quite plausible. Even if it is over by a thousand or two, I wouldn't rule it out unless you know it to be switched-out. I'll be interested in seeing the photos.
Regards,
Martin

Here are some pics of the two clip and 4 clip. The two clip s/n is 21355 ... the 4 clip s/n is 30095. It sounds like the 2 clip is ok as a 2 clip. I will refinish the case and take off the added on hooks. The 4 clips s/n is not on the raised area in the back which is blank. It is on the carriage knife edge only.. Anyone have a bottom for the two clip???

here are a couple more I did not know how to use the add on section of the two clip

tomb wrote:I will refinish the case and take off the added on hooks.

Why? The finish on the case looks good (it looks original) and the hooks look like period add-ons that make the case more interesting than just another 2 clip case. I've seen them occasionally on other squaretop standards. Obviously, if you reproduce the baseboard, you'll have to finish that, but otherwise I think you've go a nice machine there just as it is.

Regards,
Martin

I agree with Martin. The two clip cabinet was risky to move and the additional clips were the logical solution to the problem. With that said, I always support my machine, even the Gems, from the underside and I sure most collectors do the same. Jerry Blais

Hmm. 21355 is already on my list as a 4 clip machine. It was offered from Marshfield, MA on ebay back in the middle of february. Here's a link to the original listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Edison- ... 7675.l2557
It appears that somebody switched cases subsequently. Interestingly it too was missing the baseboard. So, it seems that it really was a 4 clip machine. This kind of thing makes collecting data on machines really difficult. I for one, really wish that folks would think of the historical record and stop switching stuff up without at least documenting it.

Martin