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Is there an easy way to determine whether the mechanism on a Type B Graphophone is definitely nickel plated, rather than just an unusually bright and clean standard finish? maybe some mark or notation on the id plate? and was the nickel really that uncommon relative to the standard?

I've been examining a really nice one on a forum member's web page...

http://www.edisontinfoil.com/colpoly.htm

... but just can't tell when compared to what I've got.

From what I am told, all B Graphophones are Nickel plated. Very few are polished.

The vast majority of Columbia Eagles were brushed steel and the precious few polished nickel plated ones were only produced in 1898 as I recall. An easy way to tell is by the serial number range and bright nickel plating on the components that are usually best preserved: governor ball weights and mainspring barrel assembly. No matter how diligent one is with polishing brushed steel it will never produce the shine / reflective quality of nickel plating. Some pics of mine are below. It's completely original.

Doug

Here are two quick, not so great shots... the reproducer is obviously not nickel plated, but the rest of the mechanism seems unusually bright and reflective to me, and I haven't started cleaning or polishing anything as yet. The serial number is 149xxx.

Yours is one of the polished Nickel machines, lucky. George Paul is keeping a data base on these. He would probably want to know your serial number.

That is indeed a polished Eagle - congratulations. Its serial number fits into the known range.

Actually all Eagles were nickel-plated, but the $10.00 and $12.00 models (brushed steel) were simply dipped (I think I recall reading that this was referred to as "flashing" or something like that.)

The $15.00 "Nickeled and Polished" variety had its metal parts (except the reproducer) polished smooth and then plated/polished to a mirror finish - like the 1901 AB Graphophone.

George P.

Cool... thanks for that analysis, it's much appreciated.

So the reproducer also appears to be a correct original despite not being similarly nickeled?

The reproducer should be an Eagle type and is highly polished but not plated, I believe. I have owned more than my share of them and not one had a plated reproducer. The reproducer in this picture is a type used on an early Q. The Eagle reproducer will be easy to find. I think they all had a 10" belled nickeled horn, too. So, were you able to buy this one? If so congrats. One of my favorites. See my avatar.
Joe

Your is definitely the polished nickel version and a very nice machine! You can always tell by the nickle plated balance weights. On the non-polished nickle machines, those weights are either raw brass or painted black.