The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have a Edison home A long box S/N 52678 and I wondered if I could convert this to a 2/4 speed that I will swap from a home B, and is a cygnet horn OK for this machine. I checked in Flows and he indicates a horn held from a crane that originates in the back of the machine. I have a cygnet horn being repainted in tiger oak and thought it might be a good combo but I do not want to go against authentic.

There are enough differences between a Home A & B that I would not mix the parts. I do not know if the specific combination parts would be interchangeable between the A & B Homes. Although neither model came from the factory with a cygnet, it would be reasonable for the original owners to buy a cygnet horn when they bought the combination gearing. Jerry Blais

The 10 panel Edison Cygnet horn was introduced in September 1909 which is quite a bit later than your long case Home model A. So, while it certainly was not released from the factory with the Cygnet horn, your Home model A is yours to do with as you wish and in fact I've seen a number of model A Homes over the years that were upgraded this way presumably by original owners. To be honest, though, if your Home model A is a suitcase model, a Cygnet horn would definitely not look so hot but judging by the serial number yours is the cabinet banner decal model A Home. The 2/4 minute conversion swap should be fine from the model B Home to the common model A Home (IIRC).

Does your Home have screw holes in the back for a Cygnet bracket?

If not, I would be loath to drill any new holes in the cabinet.

Some good photos of the machine would be nice.

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:Does your Home have screw holes in the back for a Cygnet bracket?

If not, I would be loath to drill any new holes in the cabinet.

Some good photos of the machine would be nice.

Bill

I'm with Bill on this. i would not drill holes in an otherwise unmolested A or b model Home. There are plenty of Cygnet machines already out there at reasonable prices.

It now has a 2/4 but no holes in the back for a cygnet mount. I probably would be better at leaving it original after I straighten up the mounting rubber pieces. Thanks for the info. I won the auction for a suitcase home A on Ebay to clean up next. Here are a few pics of the home A I was going to tinker with. Thanks for the info Tom

The actual home A is the Top picture only...... The others go to a different home A in anow in a different case. Tom

That is one of the prettier red banner front Homes I've seen in a long time! If it were mine, I would definitely leave it as close to original as possible. These do not show up all that often!

I agree. If that Red Banner Home decal is original, No way would drill holes for a Cygnet horn in the back of that Model A machine. I would just leave it alone..and original. If the machine was a litle bit more beat up or worn...I might change my mind...but no way with this machine.
)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

It is a cline decal > I took the forums sites advice when I refinished it and brought it from him . Thanks. The Home A red banner will not get the cygnet horn. I will add the cygnet to a home E. I will add a flower horn to the A.