The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'm offering a Busy Bee cylinder machine for sale missing its reproducer and horn. It is all original except the reproduction key. The bedplate is better than most that you see but not without some issues. Plating is weak on the mandrel and fair in most other places. The mechanism runs out as it should playing over 2 minutes on a full wind. I put a reproducer from one of my Q's and it the lift mechanism works properly. I do not have any records for it. See pictures and ask any questions. Safe, well packed shipping will be actual cost. Thanks for looking. Joe Filer

Edit. Price lowered to $125

New lower price of $125

Never owned a BB cylinder machine...how rare are the cylinders? Can it be converted to play standard cylinders?

Reproducers are fairly easy to find - good playing BB cylinders are not so easy.... That's what so cool,,, it plays a unique size cylinder. I would not convert it. These machines are not that scare but clean examples fetch more money of course....

Cylinders are typically in the $35.00 range and can be found on Ebay. They are scarce but out there. I would guess that a Columbia Q mandrel could be substituted or modified to work but why?.

Just curiosity. Wouldn't do it but with the similarity between the Q and the BB I was just curious. Haven't had the chance to own a small player like this yet so I don't know much about them. I

I will take it. PM sent.

Machine is sold.
Thanks, Joe