Page 1 of 1
What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built?
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 3:30 pm
by toydk
I recemtly acquired this small upright Silvertone. I have not been able to find any information on it. Does anyone know anything about it? Thanks, Dean
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:10 pm
by dutchman
Sorry I have no info but nice acquisition.
Bill K
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:26 pm
by briankeith
I don't know either but I love Silvertones
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:59 pm
by VintageTechnologies
Very nice! It must be rather rare, I have never seen one.
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:00 pm
by estott
I strongly suspect that this is not a Silvertone but a very well built custom cabinet (possibly built by the owner) which is fitted with Silvertone parts.
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:05 pm
by Benjamin_L
I agree with "estott", I don't think it's an original model Silvertone. Someone got Silvertone parts and put them in the cabinet.
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:36 pm
by Phonofreak
Is there a Silvertone label or metal plate that says Silvertone? That way, you know for sure it is a Silvertone cabinet. I really like it. It is a very nice change from the usual cookie cutter machines.
Harvey Kravitz
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:22 am
by toydk
There are no model/serial numbers any place that I can see. On the back of the turntable and on the motor it says "patent pending." It has a nice 2 spring motor and appears to be in really good condirion after I cleaned it up. Of course the sound box/reproducer says "Silvertone." And all the hardware and positioning of same suggests a Silvertone. Thanks to all for your input. Dean
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:36 am
by Uncle Vanya
I, too was watching that lot. I decided against bidding on it because I will not live long enough to get to fixing it.
The machine did not start out as a Silvertone phonograph. In fact the cabinet considerably pre-dates any Silvertone machine. It appears that you have a Hawthorne and Sheble cabinet which was built to conceal a front-mount open horn disc talking machine in the 1901-03 period.
Someone long ago valued the cabinet highly enough to do a very good job of converting it into an inside horn talking machine using Silvertone parts.
The original Hawthorne and Sheble cabinets of this sort are extremely rare, and fetch very high prices when they do turn up in their original configuration. A refinished example brought several thousand dollars at the November 2014 Stanton's sale, as I recall.
I believe that the motor board on your cabinet was the original lid. Your lid appears to be newer than the cabinet, made to conceal the Silvertone parts. I could not quite figure out how to put the cabinet back into its original configuration,s I passed on it. Perhaps that was foolish, for this is a unique machine, and a great period example of adaptive reuse.
Re: What model is this Silvertone and what year was it built
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:20 pm
by toydk
Thanks Uncle Vanya, what great information on its provenance!