The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Can you guys tell if there are any decent parts here?
This one looks like a can of worms to me, but I may try
to restore it if I can break even on the parts in a worst
case scenario. Edisons are more complicated with that
screw drive system and I have yet to work on one myself.



http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/atq/1810406338.html

Motor looks ok but I don't see the turntable. If the repro has a diamond then it's probably worth it. I wouldn't take on a restoration if the doors and grill are gone. You could get a grill but it'd be close to fifty dollars so probably not worth all the work.

Steve

I agree with Steve wrt the doors. You may want to ask, since they appear to have most of the machine taken apart, the doors may come with it as well.

Another thing to consider as you acquire machines, consoles take up a lot of floor space. You can place 2 upright machines in the same floor area as one console.

The machine in question is a "London Console", the cheapest, and perhaps least desirable of the console Diamond Disc machines.

There would be a grille in a frame over the horn, and another over the record compartment.

Here in MI such a machine would go wanting at a sale price of $25.00, unless the reproducer had a diamond point which
was known to be good.

I agree, I have one and it has tinny sound at best compared to the larger machines. Quality of the cabinets are not good either. I would pass unless as mentioned that it had a good needle in the reproducer if it comes with one. Mine had a bad needle to boot.

You'd probably be up for a new horn as well. The top mount (with the rack that drives the reproducer across the record) is still attached to the motor, which means you'd have to re-attach it to the horn EXACTLY where it was, or it will throw the horn/reproducer alignment out.
Personally I would only pay what I'd value a spring & diaphragm at...maybe $30 or so.