The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently was able to get this Columbia AT with a shaving attachment. I have never seen the attachment before. It still has the little end cap on it. Was this a Columbia product or an aftermarket accessory? The tube on top just goes into the chamber so I am thinking it was for blowing it out?

This was a Columbia accessory, and illustrated in all the machine catalogs from about 1896 into the early 20th century. We showed one of these in Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks (I think).

George P.

Great assessory! Congrats! Steve

In all my years of collecting Columbia machines, I never saw anything like this before. Thanks for sharing.
Harvey Kravitz

I will have to look again at the Gadgets and Gizzmos book. I have a question about two round head screws on the bedplate. One can be seen in the first picture to the left. There is another one in the back. They don't fasten anything. Were there other Columbia models that did have something fastened with these screws and these are just there to fill the tapped holes?

Those screws/holes were provided to attach a crescent reservoir for using ear tubes. Judging by the scarcity of that accessory, a lot of screws/drilling/tapping went to waste!

George P.

Saw this in the book I was reading tonight. If you're interested.

What an outstanding find! I think it looks great on a machine, although it is somewhat awkward to use because it does not have a adjustment screw to gradually set the shaving depth. That and, of course, the lofty $5 must have been a good reason for many Graphophone owners not purchase this attachment.

Here's a scan from the September 1897 Columbia catalog:
And here are mine:

Thanks for sharing the additional information on this shaver or as they called it "Knife".
Ken Brekke

I have one of these somewhere.