The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

*Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

I picked this up as a curiosity several years ago. It appears to be an Amberola 30 in a custom made period style cabinet. I believe the wood is pine. While this cabinet is made from cheap wood on a budget (there's a lot of use of scraps here in the back of the lid, etc.) whoever did this was either a cabinet maker or a very experienced amateur. While things like the grille look homemade at first glance, all of the cutting and fitment here are top notch.

I don't like the design of the storage door that flips down, but then, I didn't build it. In my opinion, it would benefit from cylinder drawers. The flip down door has a functional skeleton key lock, and the key is present. A pipe dream I had for this was to find an Edisonic weight and incorporate a Beethoven or Schubert horn into this thing and build the Amberola that Edison (in my opinion) should have.

But- I'm getting out of cylinders (again) as my collections are just too overwhelming, and so this little guy is in the buy box.

The early Amberola 30 mechanism plays great and the reproducer sounds very nice with no swelling, breakage, or other issues. If you want a nice Amberola 30 with a different look... step right up!

RECORDS NOT INCLUDED, sorry. Dust and cobwebs are free- they are best quality.

$375.00 OBO. Jerry B expressed willingness to transport this to a show he attends for the buyer... check with him for details. Otherwise, pick up in Springfield Oregon (near Eugene) is encouraged. I could ship Greyhound but I'd need to charge for materials to pack it up and crate it.

I've seen period ads promoting "do it yourself" type people to build their own talking machine. Companies offered detailed prints with instructions for building cabinets as well as kits that supplied precut wooden pieces. I think this machine falls into that category. It would be a shame to sell just the mechanism. I find machines like this very interesting. If you think about it, kit machines are an under appreciated niche in our hobby. Few were built and the survival percentage is probably much lower because they had a slightly amateur appearance.

Jerry Blais

A friend of mine who has an outstanding collection has a very similar cabinet with - yes - an Amberola mechanism in it (I don't recall if it's a 30 or a 50/75). The grille on my friend's is slightly different, but the lid is quite similar. I agree with Jerry - we see a boatload of 30s, but that cabinet makes it special.

George P.

Based on the above comments and after reflection, I agree and this machine will only be sold as it is. I've edited the ad. Thanks for the input and info. A kit machine was something I never considered but, given what I see here (and Jerry has seen it as well) this makes complete sense, actually.

Ive been looking into what info is out there on kit talking machines from that era, and ran across a company called "Make-a-fone" that actually looks like sort of a marketing scheme to set people up making machines "for fun and profit"... I wonder if this is one of these, or what other brands may have existed. Might be a good thread to start in "Machines"!
https://makezine.com/2011/09/05/makafon ... graph-kit/

Gee, maybe I'm not asking nearly enough... hmmm.

Just kidding.

Just to reiterate... the price is $375 OR best offer.

I'd really like to see this machine go to a good home. I'd deliver it to Union or APS for a tank of diesel. Jerry Blais

Jerry B. wrote:I'd really like to see this machine go to a good home. I'd deliver it to Union or APS for a tank of diesel. Jerry Blais

Thanks Jerry!

OK, Christmas special... $300 firm. Step right up! Someone please adopt this!

Would consider trading for a nice stack of Monarch or Deluxe opera red label records in V+ or better too.

Do I hear two- fitty?

Tough crowd!

I'll go another week at this price, then it's on to other venues! This is a giveaway for a very nice playing and unusual Amberola based machine.