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I hope this is the right category to make an introduction. I joined yesterday to get info about and help with my new acquisition. I found an Edison Standard in a junk store for only $5.00. It looks to be restorable and the motor works. My web searches tell me that it's a Model "B" and will only play 2 minute cylinders. It was missing the lid but I have since found one on eBay. It is missing the hinge block, tail weight and stylus from the reproducer so I'll be looking to remedy that soon. It came with a large metal horn (11 segments) with flowers painted on the inside. The horn is rough but also looks restorable. Anyway, I just wanted to chime in and say hi and get started here.

Thanks!
Dan

Hey welcome aboard Squire. Nice purchase, a few photos when you have time. Bill K

Wow! How can you go wrong at $5.00! Wecome to the forum and to the wonderful world of phonographs

Thanks! Here ya go!

Welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place for reliable information and good advice. They can be difficult to find elsewhere.

Best,
Fran

Welcome, Dan. I'm amazed that any business, especially one operating in 2016, would sell this for $5. Even 50 years ago in 1966 I'm sure this would be considered a good deal at $5. I would definitely keep in contact with the people that run this place as I'm presuming they don't care much about researching prices for (at least in this instance) their items. Once you have the reproducer together, a crane and a few cylinders you should be ready to enjoy it.

Doug

There's a great article on the Edison Standard Phonograph by Martin Kauper, at the Antique Phonograph Society website, if you haven't come across it in your internet search, you should check it out.

He has also provided a great reference tool of nearly 2000 recorded machines, at the end of the article, so that you can identify features that were incorporated into the model throughout it's lifetime.

http://www.antiquephono.org/spotters-gu ... honograph/

Fran

Not that any of us will ever see one, but the Martin Kauper treatment of the Standard "G" is incorrect. He made some assumptions and leaps of logic in the absence of actual information, which is not unusual in itself. However, when I put him in touch with the owner of the only known such model (the same machine pictured in Frow) he received the full story - but has not corrected the article.

The G in question has a case in poor condition, and so when Al Sefl (the owner, and co-author with George Frow of the book) went to photograph it for use in the book, he simply switched the mechanism into a handy identical but nicer case...from the Model F also shown in the book. So poor Mr. Kauper decided from the photos alone that Frow or a co-conspirator had merely switched out the carriage and reproducer as a deception.

I'm not sure why the article isn't fixed. Al Sefl may be many things, but liar and counterfeiter are not amongst them.

So future generations will read on the internet that there's no such thing as a G, and believe it.

FellowCollector wrote:Welcome, Dan. I'm amazed that any business, especially one operating in 2016, would sell this for $5. Even 50 years ago in 1966 I'm sure this would be considered a good deal at $5. I would definitely keep in contact with the people that run this place as I'm presuming they don't care much about researching prices for (at least in this instance) their items. Once you have the reproducer together, a crane and a few cylinders you should be ready to enjoy it.

Doug

It's an odd little place! There's never anyone in there and the guy working there (owner?) just sits behind the counter puttering on his laptop. I've gotten a deal or two before on 78's including some pretty nice 12" one sided Victors and Columbias. I could've missed out on the Edison. I didn't bother to ask the first time because I know what these things can go for but it kept bugging me so I went back several days later and asked him about it. He said "some guy dropped it off because it was better to give it away than throw it away. I'd let it go for $5.00." Needless to say I didn't haggle! I've learned that it never hurts to ask! I've wanted a cylinder phonograph for a long time and this one looks like it'll do nicely! I'll get to it as soon as I can but it will have to wait a bit as we're about to move. In the mean time, I'll be doing research, asking questions and obtaining parts.

That's quite a stroke of luck!

The expense of restoring or replacing the reproducer, etc., is pretty small potatoes compared with the bargain you have.

Did a crane come with that horn? If not, you'll need one to support it.

Bill