The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Maybe I can use this to make a frankenphone and sell it on ebay
like that one that sold for $700. Listing will be like this:
"well, it was my great grand pappy's so I don't know much about
it".

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/atq/1882638757.html

Looks like a short Hawthorne & Sheble horn -- cylinder version. The same bell was used for disc machines as well.

JohnM wrote:Looks like a short Hawthorne & Sheble horn -- cylinder version. The same bell was used for disc machines as well.

So this would not be compatible with an edison "fireside" cylinder machine I would imagine. Or if it was attached it would be considered a frankenphone correct?

I think it would be more correct on a little earlier machine than a Fireside. By the time the Fireside was made, the Edison company had attractive horn options for the Fireside. You could get the cute little red morning glory, the black #10 Cygnet (also available in wood grained oak) or you could step up to the oak Music Master horn.

Something else to think about... Unless you have real skills at painting, even a really good rattle can job can be spotted from across the room. The craigslist horn should be really cheap.

Thanks for the info guys. It does appear to be a rust bucket unless that is rust
colored paint. Sounds like its best to stay away from considering I have no
legitimate use for it. I am hoping to come across a fixer Edison external
horn machine some day and this would not be compatible.

Definitely concur with Jerry. The peak of popularity for this type of horn was about 1906-1907. Although the Fireside was only a couple of years away, phonograph years are like dog years in many ways!

JohnM wrote:Definitely concur with Jerry. The peak of popularity for this type of horn was about 1906-1907. Although the Fireside was only a couple of years away, phonograph years are like dog years in many ways!

If my phonographs are like dogs, I don't care what tricks they do as long as they
don't "play dead".

Jerry B. wrote:I think it would be more correct on a little earlier machine than a Fireside. By the time the Fireside was made, the Edison company had attractive horn options for the Fireside. You could get the cute little red morning glory, the black #10 Cygnet (also available in wood grained oak) or you could step up to the oak Music Master horn.

JohnM wrote:Definitely concur with Jerry. The peak of popularity for this type of horn was about 1906-1907. Although the Fireside was only a couple of years away, phonograph years are like dog years in many ways!

John, Jerry,
I think you guys are right but apparently the original owner of this machine did not like any of those new fangled options or perhaps his wife preferred the flowers. I got this machine with the original fireside horn and the earlier flowered horn. The original owner made or had someone make a pretty decent looking extension rod to fit over the bottom half of the factory Fireside crane and extend it enough so that it could support the larger horn. Plays like a champ too. Oohh, looks like a dusting could be in order though!