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Hello,
The Amberola 30 is by far the most common machine that I come across in the wild and at auctions. I was offered three just in the last two weeks. In my Edison Phonograph book it says that the Amberola 30 was introduced in 1915 but it doesn't say when production stopped. Does anyone know how many machines were produced and over what time period?
Thanks
Pete

The Amberola 30, 50 and 75 were available until the end of phonograph production in 1929, and possibly for some time afterwards as unsold stocks were cleared.

They are nowhere near as common here in the UK, where the decline of the cylinder began much earlier than in the USA. We see far more Standards and Gems than Amberolas.

I think that I read from Frow one time that the Amberola 30 Production was from 1915 to until production stopped in 1925, but Edison had so many in stock as well as bedplates and motors that they kept offering them until the doors closed in 1929. In the 1920's, It was their best selling Phonograph hands down...until Radio came in the early 20's then demand for phonographs in general declined..

The latest Amberola 30 Serial Number that I have on record (and a pic of the dataplate) is #224055 , But I know that there were plenty more..

I'd like to take a poll here now and see what's the latest Amberola 30 Serial number that they've ever seen... It looks like I just started...with #224055... Whatcha got out there???!!??


)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

I was always amazed at the factory photo on page 221 in the Frow Edison Cylinder Phonograph Companion (p. 343 in the Ipad version) showing stacks of Amberola 30 motors waiting for installation in cabinets, with Edisonic horns hanging from the ceiling! The photo is dated from late 1927. I never knew that Edison was still making the Amberola 30 phonographs that late, although I did know they were still making the cylinder records. That shows how stubborn Edison was! Any other phonograph company would have dumped these machines many years before!

marcapra wrote:I was always amazed at the factory photo on page 221 in the Frow Edison Cylinder Phonograph Companion (p. 343 in the Ipad version) showing stacks of Amberola 30 motors waiting for installation in cabinets, with Edisonic horns hanging from the ceiling! The photo is dated from late 1927. I never knew that Edison was still making the Amberola 30 phonographs that late, although I did know they were still making the cylinder records. That shows how stubborn Edison was! Any other phonograph company would have dumped these machines many years before!

Those Amberola motors may have been unsold inventory manufactured years earlier - assembled as needed when an order was received.

George P.

George, after looking at those horns hanging above, could Frow have made a mistake? Could they really be Amberola 30 horns? It's hard to tell from the photograph.

NEFaurora wrote:I think that I read from Frow one time that the Amberola 30 Production was from 1915 to until production stopped in 1925, but Edison had so many in stock as well as bedplates and motors that they kept offering them until the doors closed in 1929. In the 1920's, It was their best selling Phonograph hands down...until Radio came in the early 20's then demand for phonographs in general declined..

The latest Amberola 30 Serial Number that I have on record (and a pic of the dataplate) is #224055 , But I know that there were plenty more..

I'd like to take a poll here now and see what's the latest Amberola 30 Serial number that they've ever seen... It looks like I just started...with #224055... Whatcha got out there???!!??


)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Tony,

You mention that the Amberola 30 was Edison’s best selling Phonograph. I am curious if the Amberola outsold the Edison Diamond Disc machines?

Jerry

Victrolacollector wrote:

NEFaurora wrote:I think that I read from Frow one time that the Amberola 30 Production was from 1915 to until production stopped in 1925, but Edison had so many in stock as well as bedplates and motors that they kept offering them until the doors closed in 1929. In the 1920's, It was their best selling Phonograph hands down...until Radio came in the early 20's then demand for phonographs in general declined..

The latest Amberola 30 Serial Number that I have on record (and a pic of the dataplate) is #224055 , But I know that there were plenty more..

I'd like to take a poll here now and see what's the latest Amberola 30 Serial number that they've ever seen... It looks like I just started...with #224055... Whatcha got out there???!!??


)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Tony,

You mention that the Amberola 30 was Edison’s best selling Phonograph. I am curious if the Amberola outsold the Edison Diamond Disc machines?

Jerry

Considering that the later Amberolas were far cheaper than any DD machine; and that Edison had a big market in rural areas, particularly the South, it wouldn't be too surprising.

Bill