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bought an Edison Standard Phonograph and A Victor Victrola yesterday at a yard sale for $45. The owner has passed away and we got a good deal.

The Edison looks like a Model A but it has a broken or unassembled reproducer that says model C. The belt is very crusty but still runs but probably needs some tender loving care. We are in the San Francisco bay area, is there any place to take it nearby for touch up? Is it worth repairing?

The Serial number on the Edison says S22531 on it. Can anyone tell me the model and date of manufacture?

The Victor Victrola works but could also use a tune up. Same questions about this one. Any place to spruce it up and is it worth it?

Photos and a video of the Victor are here.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/jjrides/w6A6Xn

John

Your Edison is a Standard model A (there were also model A Edison Gems, Homes, Triumphs, Firesides, etc.). You're Standard was originally in a 4-clip cabinet. It left the factory in April 1900, but the New Style cabinet in which it sits wasn't introduced for another year.

You will find several articles helpful at the Antique Phonograph Society web site, especially this one:

https://www.antiquephono.org/spotters-g ... honograph/

The Model C Reproducer was standard equipment on your Standard. It's the most common of the reproducers that play 2-minute cylinders.

You can learn about your Victrola VIII here:

http://www.victor-victrola.com/VIII.htm

Congratulations,
George P.

Great finds at even a greater price. Congrats!!! These should clean up very nicely.

Your Standard looks like a very nice little machine. The Standard is a robust machine and one of the most popular machines of its era. I will be selling a slightly later Edison Standard at the APS (Antique Phonograph Society) sale in Buena Park, CA in August. The asking price on mine with a little reproduction 14" horn and a few cylinders will be around $325. If you use the search feature of our Forum you will find threads on basic servicing of machines like yours. Also search for reproducer repairs and several good names will pop up. If you should find yourself visiting Oregon bring your Edison and we'll give it a once over. Welcome to the Forum.

Jerry Blais
541-990-0781

Wow, You got a Stellar deal on both of those!!!..and YES, They are both worth repairing!!!...as a BONUS, They are both already in nice shape!!

Why can't I ever have neighbors like this?!???

Congrats on the great finds!!

You did extremely well!!!

)

Tony K.

Edison Collector/Restorer

Did you know you can still get 2-minute cylinders for your Edison Standard? There are a few companies still making the old-style cylinder records, with great titles. The 78s for your Victrola are available on the used market for cheap, and there is a member here who makes them from scratch...

in other words, these old machines are perfectly viable for listening when you get them back to factory specs.

John brought both machines over here today. I tuned them both up, and did some repairs to the Standard, and now he’s all set.

Showed him some other stuff while he was here, and we had a fun afternoon.

Thanks everyone. What a cool community. Many thanks to Peter Fraser for getting the machines tuned up! John