The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello everyone,
My name is Kirk and I have been a lover of phonographs since I was 15 when I bought my first Edison 2/4 min for $675.00 at a local antique store.
IT took 4 months of work to pay it off but I loved it. I then started buying more!

Anyway,
I lost everything years ago but this week I rekindled the flame...
I was perusing a local antique shop and saw a gorgeous (in my eyes) Edison DD A-300 in Circassian Walnut.
It was really gross but mostly complete.
I need a reproducer but it had everything else and more in the bottom drawer, back of the horn cabinet and in the top.
It also had 55 perfect records! Plus some ivory and bone and misc behind the drawers
The 2 front feet are pretty bad so I will have to reproduce them but that is really it...
I have an adaptor for regular records and boy is this sucker loud!
I had to shove my hat in the horn to quiet the Hungarian Rhapsody

What are your opinions on this machine?
Would you refinish the cabinet? (I have experience)
The good thing is that the grill was in backwards! The front is better and the pieces were mostly in the horn area.

It is quite a space taker so I was thinking maybe I would try to trade it for a nice tabletop with an external horn... OR I will buy one with a horn and keep both

Here she is!

What a phenomenal find! Thanks for before and after photos. The machine is gorgeous! What a wonderful way to break back into the hobby. A highly prized and sought after Edison phonograph. Congratulations! !!!! Steve

Your A300 is a great find. There are so few of them around making it well worth the restoration costs. You will find several individuals on the forum who can help you find the parts to repair the machine. The cabinet repairs and grill should be addressed by a craftsman. Please post more images of the restoration. If you decide to sell it, you shouldn't have any problems finding a buyer.

Welcome to the forum, Kirk! I'm sure there won't be any lack of enthusiasm for your incredible find.

Best,
Fran

Gramp's Treasures can repair or make you a brand new grille - http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=phonog ... lls%2Ehtml

Thank you all,
I am very excited about it. I am a woodworker so the grill will be dealt with correctly... I hope,
Today I was playing some Rhythm and Bugs and all I hear is a SNAP!
The main spring broke I think... It will only wind a little before recoiling...
I will need this fixed so who knows someone?
I did one years ago and I don't think I will try this one...
It is perfect timing.. I just found a guy who is selling a reproducer and this happens...
I cant afford both right now so the spring must be done first...

Ugh....

Congratulations to this beautiful machine. I think it looks great as is and would not do anything to the cabinet except the grill and legs repairs. You can either replace the mainspring yourself or I'm sure you will find someone to help. Here is a link to the Edison Disc Motor Manual: http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ?f=2&t=476

Andreas

Amazing! That is going to be one fine phonograph! I really like this cabinet style. As for the mainspring, give Ron Sitko a call. He does great work and probably has the best prices.

Welcome Kirk!

-Connor

Thanks guys,
I actually found a local guy for $75.00 so I dont have to mail this big sucker.
It was a lot less than I expected. Well worth not having to do it myself.

Now I can get my rebuilt reproducer!

THe phonograph looks good int he pictures but the cabinet is pretty beat up. Mostly the front door with whitening and scratches...
The grill will of course have to be done.

Kirk

Kirk,

This is a very good phonograph, with some significant value. I would NOT refinish it. Instead, I would urge you to seek out the help of a professional restorer, to assure that this comes out right. I don't mean to question your abilities when I say this, so I'm hoping this doesn't come across wrong. The effort to have this done well, will pay off in the long run and help to preserve a pretty special machine.