The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

By chance I have come across this example (link below) of what I think is an Edison Standard Model A top-plate (1903–05) with mandrel, carrier-arm assembly and combination-attachment, uneasily married to an Edison Ekonowatt motor. The vendor has not recognised this as a phonograph. The reproducer and carrier-arm have been hideously mangled (why in the world would anybody have done this?), but I suppose this whole assembly could be replaced easily enough. The starting price is attractive but the shipping cost to Britain (where I am) would be prohibitive, and in any case the mains voltage is wrong for Britain. Perhaps somebody here can make use of the opportunity. The combination gearing alone might be worth a bid or two.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Edis ... GTR=1#shId

Oliver Mundy.

The Ekonowatt motor is a good power source for a phonograph on a modern electric service, steady and strong. In this application, however, it must be governed down to the point where it overheats and does not produce sufficient power. If an oversized pulley is made for the mandrel, however, one will have a really excellent player. Some years ago I built up a similar assembly using a Fireside top plate and installed it in the top of an otherwise restored Edison C-4 (which had a record changer substituted for the original turntable and tone arm) using a Sykes Electrograph in place of the reproducer. The machine was absolutely WONDERFUL.

For posterity...