The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi All,
When I began being re-energized in the phonograph hobby one year ago I bought a 1-A from an auction that has a grill with many repairs to reassemble it's broken pieces. I see there is an original 250 grill in what appears to be good condition on eBay and it looks the same as my grill. I am asking the members of the forum will this grill fit my 1-A and would it be proper to use it to replace the grill in my 1-A.
Thank You All Most Kindly,
Allen

Yes, it's the same grill. I have done that with a couple of big Amberolas. I did have to trim the frame on one of the grills but in the machine it was perfect. Go for it! Jerry

This brings up and interesting discussion. Edison had high hopes of competing for the "high class" trade when the big Amberola 1-A & B were introduced. Sales must have been much less than anticipated. When the shift to disc format was made, why did the Edison company use an old style cabinet design to introduce their new Edison? I realize there was the desire to use up available cabinets but why use a cabinet from what was essentially a failure to introduce a new product? Jerry B.

Jerry B. wrote:This brings up and interesting discussion. Edison had high hopes of competing for the "high class" trade when the big Amberola 1-A & B were introduced. Sales must have been much less than anticipated. When the shift to disc format was made, why did the Edison company use an old style cabinet design to introduce their new Edison? I realize there was the desire to use up available cabinets but why use a cabinet from what was essentially a failure to introduce a new product? Jerry B.

There were similar complaints at the time. Check out chapter 3 of Frow's Edison disc phonograph book. A great deal of effort had gone into designing that cabinet to avoid Victor's Victrola cabinet patents when the Amberola cabinet was developed. There are also some references in the "History" section of the material about the A/B 250 later in the book.

Fine by me though. I like that cabinet style.

Clay

Thanks all I purchased the 250 gill on eBay to replace what I now think is a very repaired 250 grill (tack holes for cloth) that was in my 1-A. There were missing parts of the scroll work that were replaced neatly all patching with over lapping wood at the rear of the grill.
Allen