Edison Standard Spotter's Guide revisions for 2016

[martinola]

I just wanted to give everybody a "heads up" about some revisions to the "Spotter's Guide to the Edison Standard Phonograph" on the Antique Phonograph Society's website.

The "Spotter's Guide" article is part of the ongoing Edison Standard Data Project (now in its 10th year). Some new things have been added to the article itself as well as some minor corrections. Of particular significance is the section on the Standard Model G.

A whole new uploadable excel data sheet with all of the Edison Standard Data Project's entries is included as a link at the end of the article. New features have been added for new applications.

Machine mortality has been an issue leading to a new feature: the "Parted" column. This will allow easy filtering of machines that were parted out. This will allow a potential buyer to quickly tell if a machine was put together from previously seen parts from other machines. Even without using this filtering feature, a potential buyer can see if a machine previously noted has been changed or altered from its first entry.

All of this is far from earth-shattering, but if you need some Edison Standard info (or you want to kill 20 minutes) here's the link:

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

Many thanks to George Paul and the numerous contributors over the past ten years that have made this possible.

- Martin

[PeterF]

Thank you very much for this update! The body of work remains impressive, and is even better now with the adjustments and tweaks you have made.

Thanks again.

[fourforty]

Nice job Martin! Thanks for all that you do.

I have attached here the data for my Standard D machine, to add to your database. It is a late standard, and I think it dates to 1912. It is serial number 784302.
Details are: Patent plate @ rear with Model type @ btm, angled carrier arm, lid has "change of reproducers" sticker inside with 3 screw type lid clips and finger jointed corners on the moulding.

If you have time, let me know if you think my standard can be reasonably dated to 1912.

Thanks,
David

[tomb]

With so many machines being now found that need a lot of work or parts or are sold as a parts machine does repairing a parted out machine declines its value or its originality if it is repaired correctly and only Edison parts are used????. Some need a case, some a bronze bearing that is froze, some only a broken spring that a new owner can not fix so gets rid of it as a parts machine.. What is a parts machine??? What is a repaired machine?? WE know what an original machine is but how many are around??? Taking a antique car and replacing some major damage does not usually derides its value. Some like them original??? but most like them shiny new.. You have one heck of a data base I printed it out and it took a ream of paper. That is a lot of hard work to keep track of that many machines. Do you want some more serial numbers? I think I might have 10 or 15 ... Tom B

[martinola]

Nice job Martin! Thanks for all that you do.

I have attached here the data for my Standard D machine, to add to your database. It is a late standard, and I think it dates to 1912. It is serial number 784302...
If you have time, let me know if you think my standard can be reasonably dated to 1912.

Thanks,
David

Thanks David. Sorry I'm so late in replying (I locked myself out of my TMF account - thanks George & Brandon!). I think 1912 is a reasonable guess. I'm not aware of any sales records past early 1908, so an educated guess is about all I can do. The further complications are that Models C, D, E & F were produced in blocks of numbers at the same time, so without documentation, it's hard to have much accuracy at all. I just guessed at a production of 3500 per month. The first Model Ds were 623000 or so in Oct. 1908. I think that would make it about Aug. 1912. Again, it's only slightly better than a wild guess. Thanks for the info!

Regards,
Martin

[martinola]

Hi Tom.

I can't speak for others, but I always put more value on a machine that is in good original condition that never has been apart (or at least has all the parts it left the factory with). There's nothing wrong in my mind about rescuing/restoring a machine using collected parts (I've done it many times myself). By doing so, however, a restorer has to make guesses as to the machine's original configuration. Theoretically, that can skew the historic record if one gets something wrong. That's why I feel that documenting whether or not a machine is made up from the parts bin is important. As to the question of differences in value - I'll leave that for the marketplace to decide.

I'm always happy to add more machines to the list. Please feel free to PM me with some photos of your machines (a nice close up of the patent plate is always helpful).

Best Regards,

Martin