The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I found this Columbia coin-op Graphophone at a swap meet. It took almost every dime I had in my pocket to buy it, but it came home with me. Unfortunately, the seller had been demonstrating the machine using an Edison 4-minute blue Amberol cylinder. Needless to say, the reproducer is now broken, but otherwise the machine is in remarkable condition, other than the mechanism being a bit cantankerous; (perhaps as a result of the cylinder). I imagine that it had been restored at some time. As a bonus, I found these Liberty Nickels inside!

Anyway, I'd like to find an operator's manual for these coin-op machines, but I do not know if any exist. Does anyone know if there are facsimile manuals available? Also, I am missing the key - I imagine that I will need to have one made.

Thanks - Mike

Nice machine...

What a great find. Congratulations! Jerry Blais

Now that is a swap meet find. Congratulations!

Andreas

Here are some interior shots, sans reproducer. It's a Type B.

I need to start going to the swap meet. I used to go a lot and never saw an old phonograph .I found an old Ferris wheel once enclosed in a good case though. Nice find. Tom B

Very nice find! I love my BS. While it's probably the least rare coin-op, it's one of the most fun to watch in operation. Simple to adjust, beautiful to look at -- what's not to love??

The old nickels were a good find too!

What do you mean sort of? Nice score.

I saw this machine in Facebook group! I'd bet that you paid a good price for it, though it did empty your pockets...