The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have been working on this for a couple of months a little at a time. Parts are from several places. I got the final decal Wed and applied it today. Pictures are not in good order so bear with me. Another one from the Edison grave yard.. I enjoy being a Edison grave yard robber Tom B

NICE work! How does she play?

Looks great!

The "badged" crank is a nice touch. So this makes me wonder whether there is anything that tells us when those cranks were used - is there a known range of either serial numbers or dates?

Were they only on Homes, or others?

Calling Dr Paul, Dr George, Dr Paul...

Very nice job! I too like the badged crank!

PeterF wrote:Looks great!

The "badged" crank is a nice touch. So this makes me wonder whether there is anything that tells us when those cranks were used - is there a known range of either serial numbers or dates?

Were they only on Homes, or others?

Calling Dr Paul, Dr George, Dr Paul...

Woop-woop-woop-woop....! Sointenly!

I wish I had a definitive answer. The "National" badged cranks show up on early Homes and Spring Motors. Some of the earliest Spring Motors have "U.S. Phono. Co." badged cranks, but I would expect those were phased out quickly starting in October 1897 when Edison took over manufacturing the motors for that model.

Serial range...who knows? I've never seen (nor heard of) a badged Standard crank, so logically, we might argue that the Home cranks dropped their badges ("we don't need no stinkin' badges!") in early 1898 when the Standard appeared. But we don't know that.

My rule of thumb - which I don't claim to be entirely accurate - is that any Home numbered under approx. 10,000 (December 1898) might have been shipped with a badged crank. Tom's is a very late example of a suitcase Home, so I'm confident it wasn't originally shipped with one, but I agree that it's a nice touch.

George P.

Nice:) But how do you make that decal look a lot less like a "new decal" - you can plainly see the clear film around the decal. I have always wondered that. It's fairly easy on a wood case but on a black bedplate? Just asking not nit-picking.

It looks very good. What type of reproducer is on it?

I am waiting a couple of days to put orange shellac on the decal. I learned to coat it after it is thoroughly dry otherwise they could bubble up. The crank is an original that I sent to Wyatt's and he put the plate on it. I Marked it reproduction on the back. It has a winged C on it.

phonogfp wrote:

PeterF wrote:Looks great!

The "badged" crank is a nice touch. So this makes me wonder whether there is anything that tells us when those cranks were used - is there a known range of either serial numbers or dates?

Were they only on Homes, or others?

Calling Dr Paul, Dr George, Dr Paul...

Woop-woop-woop-woop....! Sointenly!

I wish I had a definitive answer. The "National" badged cranks show up on early Homes and Spring Motors. Some of the earliest Spring Motors have "U.S. Phono. Co." badged cranks, but I would expect those were phased out quickly starting in October 1897 when Edison took over manufacturing the motors for that model.

Serial range...who knows? I've never seen (nor heard of) a badged Standard crank, so logically, we might argue that the Home cranks dropped their badges ("we don't need no stinkin' badges!") in early 1898 when the Standard appeared. But we don't know that.

My rule of thumb - which I don't claim to be entirely accurate - is that any Home numbered under approx. 10,000 (December 1898) might have been shipped with a badged crank. Tom's is a very late example of a suitcase Home, so I'm confident it wasn't originally shipped with one, but I agree that it's a nice touch.

George P.

Thanks George. You are truly Johnny On The Spot, today even more promptly than usual.

This data syncs with my own early Home, s/n in the 2000's. When I bought it, there was no crank. I asked the seller, who was an older guy (who sadly was in the process of getting mentally vague and was getting rid of stuff in anticipation), where it might be. "Oh, yeah," he said, and began rummaging in a bin of cranks in his shop..."here it is, almost forgot." He pointed out the badge, not like it was something rare and special, but just that they belonged together. Quite a nice unexpected bonus.

Tom, That looks great! I notice that you used orange shellac. I'm just now beginning to learn what's recommended for refinishing these machines. Would you please share why someone would choose orange over clear?
Did you strip and refinish your bed plate? If so, will you point me in the right direction for instruction?
I've looked at some video's that after taking acre of rust, basically just use a standard stripper and black spray enamel.

briankeith wrote:Nice:) But how do you make that decal look a lot less like a "new decal" - you can plainly see the clear film around the decal. I have always wondered that. It's fairly easy on a wood case but on a black bedplate? Just asking not nit-picking.

It's easy if you know what you're doing. But since I don't, would you please share how to replace a decal on a wood case making it look as original as possible?
I probably wouldn't change an original decal even in bad shape but mine has an obvious replacement decal.