The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello, can anyone tell me if Edison made any opera's with a black bed plate or were they all maroon?

The Edison School phonograph used a black Opera-like bed plate. Factory produced Edison Opera phonographs were not released with black bed plates that I'm aware of. Edison Opera (model) bed plates were factory painted brown. Amberola 1A top castings in the mahogany cabinet (and very early Amberola III's) were factory painted maroon but no other Edison cylinder phonographs had the maroon top castings that I'm aware of.

I have attached some pictures does this bed plate look right, it's black?

I have seen Mahogany Operas with a maroon gold striped bedplate. The Oak Operas I've seen have a brown gold striped bedplate.
Harvey Kravitz

So are you saying that this doesn't look right?

It looks right to me. It also does not look black. I'm seeing a very dark maroon. Maybe the brightness of the camera flash brings it out more

Can you tell me what would be a fair price for one of these machines?

Thanks Gordon.

This Opera looks correct to me as well based on the pictures. The top casting appears to my eyes to be painted dark brown (especially in the first picture) which is what I've seen on most original Edison Operas in mahogany. I have two original mahogany Edison Operas here in my collection and the paint color on yours looks the same. Value would be determined by the original factor, condition, function (plays well), demand at the time and location it is being sold. Yours appears to be nice and I would expect $3.5K to $5.5K range here in the U.S. based on the limited pictures here and presuming it plays well. In the UK where these don't turn up very often - who knows?

The reproducer on yours appears to be a model L which is much more scarce than the normally found Diamond model A equipped on most Edison Operas so this may push yours more toward the higher range that I proposed.

Doug

Whatever colour it actually is, it is a very nice looking machine.

They don't turn up very often in the UK but I would reckon it would worth somewhere between £4,000 and £5,000 at a rough guess.

All the best

Tim W-W