The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Besides the obvious top plate, carriage , and case differences, is there a difference in performance between the Home and Standard model Edisons?

One feature of the Edison Home Phonograph which
makes it slightly less than appealing to me is
the fact that the carriage guide rod is of a fairly
small diameter. A smaller diameter than what the
Standards have.

In fact, I saw a very nicely finished and presented
Home at Union a few years ago. I had a big wad of
freshly obtained cash in my pocket from very brisk
sales of my brand new brown wax blanks.

The Home looked nice and the price seemed OK.

The deal went sour though, the instant I tested it
to see how it played.

The feedscrew/carriage/halfnut was badly adjusted
and the darn thing could not even get through a
2-minute Gold Moulded without skipping.

That was all I needed to see. I walked away and kept
my pocket full of cash.

That is about like taking a car out for a test drive
and having the engine quit.

There have been discussions about this before. I like the Standard better, because it is more compact and less finicky than the Home. Don't get me wrong, I have a few of each. The long, fine feed screw on Homes, and Triumphs, are fussy because everything has to be exactly right on, or playing will be bad. It takes a lot more effort to adjust a Home or Triumph, than a Standard. However, Triumphs and Homes are excellent machines when properly tuned. To me, a Standard sounds just as good as the Home or Triumph. The reproducers fit the same carriage. Also, the larger machine don't have to be wound as frequent as the Standard.
Harvey Kravitz

As others have said, there are other threads discussing the merits of each model. The simple fact that the Home was a huge seller is an accurate indicator of its performance and value to Edison buyers. Jerry Blais

I guess Im wondering why Edison bothered with making the Home. Dont get me wrong. I would love to own one some day. I like the looks of them. Wondered if there was any advantage like longer playing time or something over the Standard. The Standard is such a good, bullet proof design that performs very well. I'll do a search for some older threads. Thanks for the replies!

The Home was introduced before the Standard. The Standard was an attempt to make a more compact machine with the feed screw and mandrel being parallel. Sales of the Home and Standard comprised most of Edison's sales with the Gem and Triumph in much smaller numbers. Jerry

Jerry B. wrote:The Home was introduced before the Standard. The Standard was an attempt to make a more compact machine with the feed screw and mandrel being parallel. Sales of the Home and Standard comprised most of Edison's sales with the Gem and Triumph in much smaller numbers. Jerry

Jerry, that makes sense! I thought the Home and Standard were in production at the same time. Learning every day!

hearsedriver wrote: I thought the Home and Standard were in production at the same time. Learning every day!

The Home and Standard were in production at the same time. The Home was introduced in 1896; the Standard in 1898. They were both produced (along with several other types) until 1913 and a bit later.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

hearsedriver wrote: I thought the Home and Standard were in production at the same time. Learning every day!

The Home and Standard were in production at the same time. The Home was introduced in 1896; the Standard in 1898. They were both produced (along with several other types) until 1913 and a bit later.

George P.

That was how production went: Edison was in fierce competition with Columbia at the time.

Edison started with the Spring Motor; then, when Columbia rolled out the Type N, they introduced the Home as a less expensive model; when Columbia introduced the type A, Edison countered with the Standard; and so on...

Bill

I would say the Home and Standard performance depends on the condition of the feed screw, and if the spring is new. As others pointed out, the home and Triumph feedscrews must be adjusted exactly, not too much tension, not too little, also any variation in the straight edge, will change the tension on the half nut in proportion to the amount of run out. The Standard is more forgiving, than the Home in this aspect, I have seen some Standards adjusted where the carriage is not even touching the straight edge and still perform ok. The springs in both must be in good shape for proper performance. A worn half nut, and dirty feedscrew on a home, or Triumph will require more tension, this robs the motor of power. In a way though they both perform about the same when a new, powerful spring is in the machines.