The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello all,

I have the opportunity to purchase my first cylinder phonograph but I am a little unsure. The seller has stated that it belonged to their father and it has not been used in about a year. It comes with about 100 cylinders (brown, black, and blue Amberols) and a Model B reproducer and a model H, though it is only a two-minute machine. It also has a black and brass horn. It has the lid and base and I would say overall, the unit is in good, average condition. They have told me that their bottom line is $650, which seems okay for what is included, if it works. But being unfamiliar with cylinder phonographs, I wanted to ask you all.

I am somewhat familiar with the operation of cylinder phonographs.

I have planned on seeing it tomorrow.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. VictorVV-X

I can't see the whole machine but believe it's strictly a two minute player. So you won't be able to play many if the cylinders. The H reproducer is a four minute reproducer. I'm guessing it is the remains of a collection.

There are better first cylinder machines than a Gem but a Gem is more unusual than a Standard or Home. I'd suggest an "advanced search" on Ebay for completed sales of Edison Gems.

Jerry B.

Jerry B. wrote:I can't see the whole machine but believe it's strictly a two minute player. So you won't be able to play many if the cylinders. The H reproducer is a four minute reproducer. I'm guessing it is the remains of a collection.

There are better first cylinder machines than a Gem but a Gem is more unusual than a Standard or Home. I'd suggest an "advanced search" on Ebay for completed sales of Edison Gems.

Jerry B.

Jerry,

Thank you for the advice.
I was thinking that I could use the other reproducer and any four minute records later on if I ever got a combination machine.

I have a Gem C that I have added a 2/4 minute gearing kit and that may work on a Gem B too.

Kevan

While there are many interesting variations of the Gem, IMHO it's not a good choice for a first cylinder machine. It was designed to be a cheaper alternative to the more robust Standard and Home machines. It has one small spring that you will probably have to rewind after every record.

I would suggest that for $650 you can get a similar outfit that includes a Standard or Home, perhaps even with 2 and 4 minute gearing, and probably still have some money left over.

Having said that, a working Gem with 2 reproducers and 100 records is not unfairly priced at $650, provided that everything works properly and at least some of the records are "interesting". You will clearly need to change that belt soon, but that's a small job.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Hello,

Just looking at your first photograph and I apologize if you are aware of this, but please be sure that the notch of the reproducer is located at the top of the reproducer bracket. There ought to be a small pin to engage the notch. Only the earliest of Edison's machines lack the locator pin.

A short horrific story: A friend of mine got ahold of a Amberol 15 machine with a large collection of records. He kept trying to find a record that would play on it.
Trouble was almost all the records he got with it were 2 minute wax. He wasn't aware of the incompatibility issue.

I wish you the best of luck with your acquisition !

The two reproducers are worth almost $300 the cylinders at $2 apiece is another $200. It’s a good deal, go for it. You may find a few great cylinders mixed in the lot especially if any of the brown wax cylinders are in good condition. Great start of a collection. Ask him if he has the horn crane for the machine also.

Rich Gordon