The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This Chalet model B-19 has been listed on my local Facebook site for weeks and I am feeling the need to rescue it. The machine is missing the reproducer and will need to be refinished. I asked the owner if the motor winds up and works and was told yes. My concern is in the last picture you will see some extra bits that are included with the machine. What the heck is that broken piece in the bottom right of the photo?
Is this a part from the machine or something unrelated? They are asking $80 for it but will probably take less.

Pete, that's an adapter for playing lateral cut records (so-called 78s). It's obviously broken, and might be difficult, but not impossible, to find parts to put it back together. In all honesty it would be easy to acquire another similar one if you'd like to play 78s.

$80 for a B19 is very reasonable imho, even if it needs a little work. Nickel reproducers are plentiful to buy, just make sure it has a good stylus, because replacing them is not inexpensive.

Best,
Fran

Its that broken threaded cast iron piece in the bottom right of the last picture that I am worried about. Does anyone know if that belongs somewhere on an Edison B-19???

Thanks
Pete

Pete Stratford wrote:Its that broken threaded cast iron piece in the bottom right of the last picture that I am worried about. Does anyone know if that belongs somewhere on an Edison B-19???

Thanks
Pete

I don't believe it is. I'm very familiar with the Edison Type B motors, and there's nothing even similar to that broken piece that I know of in them.

Here's a clear image of one of my spare motors, and although this one has 2 mainsprings, everything else would be the same as the B 19 single spring motor. There's nothing like that part anywhere. Best,
Fran

Thank you for the picture of the motor. That really helps.

Pete Stratford wrote:This Chalet model B-19 has been listed on my local Facebook site for weeks and I am feeling the need to rescue it. The machine is missing the reproducer and will need to be refinished. I asked the owner if the motor winds up and works and was told yes. My concern is in the last picture you will see some extra bits that are included with the machine. What the heck is that broken piece in the bottom right of the photo?
Is this a part from the machine or something unrelated? They are asking $80 for it but will probably take less.

Do you have experience with these machines, or have you seen it in person? If not, just as a heads up, they are NOT small, and Thomas Alva Edison never made anything lightweight. I had one briefly, and I was astonished at the size of the thing. It is not like, say, a Victrola IV or VI that will fit on a small table. You'll want a large, stout table or cabinet to support it. While I had mine, it sat sideways on top of my Orthophonic Credenza; that was not significant overkill for supporting the Chalet.

drh wrote:

Pete Stratford wrote:This Chalet model B-19 has been listed on my local Facebook site for weeks and I am feeling the need to rescue it. The machine is missing the reproducer and will need to be refinished. I asked the owner if the motor winds up and works and was told yes. My concern is in the last picture you will see some extra bits that are included with the machine. What the heck is that broken piece in the bottom right of the photo?
Is this a part from the machine or something unrelated? They are asking $80 for it but will probably take less.

Do you have experience with these machines, or have you seen it in person? If not, just as a heads up, they are NOT small, and Thomas Alva Edison never made anything lightweight. I had one briefly, and I was astonished at the size of the thing. It is not like, say, a Victrola IV or VI that will fit on a small table. You'll want a large, stout table or cabinet to support it. While I had mine, it sat sideways on top of my Orthophonic Credenza; that was not significant overkill for supporting the Chalet.

Indeed, I wanted one of these for a long time to use as a "spare" bedroom player. Well, forget that idea! It's probably as large and heavy a table top machine as you'll ever see. I sold it within a year.