The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was wondering why the Edison B-60 lidless table top DD phonograph, which I just acquired, has two curved slots in the motorboard in back of the turntable? Maybe someone like George Paul, Wyatt Markus, or Uncle Vanya could surely answer this question. Thanks, Marc.

One of Victor's patent claims for internal-horn machines included a closed-off motor compartment (I believe one of the terms used at the time was "dust free.") When patent attorney Delos Holden advised the Edison folks on design of the first Amberolas (and subsequently the Edison Disc Phonographs), he made a point of cautioning them on that claim. The result was Amberola and Disc mechanisms mounted with removable wooden framing or metal grilles. I suspect the curved slots on the "60" Disc Phonographs were there to keep clear of violating that claim. Ditto with the cloth-backed grillework on the "80" models.

George P.

....what George said!!!!!

Thanks George, I was clueless. Jerry B.

Thanks guys! Boy, those Victor patents were strict! But I like the look of the top grilles on Edisons anyway. Marc.

Marc,

Unrelated comment but I thought of it as I was admiring your nice photos. In case you have not noticed that hole adjacent to the spindle on the turntable is an oil hole. It is the only way to oil the upper bearing other than loosening the pulley and removing the turntable and connected shaft.

Steve

thanks Steve. yes I know that since my tech guy told me about that. One thing you have to know when you buy one of these B-60 or B-80 machines is that you can't just pull off the turntable like on other DD machines because of the pulley mechanism on the bottom. So they had to put an off-center spindle hole for oiling purposes there.