The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all- After many years of watching my late brother Michael Woolf in New Zealand collect many machines, I just stumbled across an Edison Home machine at an estate sale. It wasn't my intent to buy a cylinder machine when I woke up this morning, but....oh well. The price was right.

So I am hoping to get some help from this forum to get it into better shape than it is now.

The serial number on the patent plate reads H70230. It has a Model C reproducer. I must have hit all the right bumps on the way home- when I tried it at the sale, it wasn't running. BUT- by the time I got home, it winds, and the mandrel spins, so I'm ahead.

Does the serial number reveal any info?

My next move will be to just mess around with it for a bit, and read up as much as I can about restoration. I will not be aiming for a 100-pointer, but it will be nice if I can improve it somewhat.

Any help will be gratefully received. Thank you all.

Welcome to the forum and to the hobby!

According to original Edison sales figures, Edison Home No.70230 left the factory in April 1903.

You might enjoy some of the free articles on the Antique Phonograph Society's web site:

https://www.antiquephono.org/

Simply click on the "Articles" tab above, then "Introductory." You'll find a 2-page listing. Don't overlook that second page - it has some good stuff for beginners!

Best of luck,
George P.

Thanks so Much! I' m inspired!

You're very welcome.

An excellent source for do-it-yourself restoration tips is a book by Eric Reiss: The Compleat Talking Machine. Widely available at low prices. The latest edition is the 5th Edition. Here's a good deal:

https://play.google.com/store/books/det ... lsrc=aw.ds

George P.