Is This A Phono Crank?

[Dave D]

An antique dealer I do work for gave me a box of phono cranks and this was in it. I don't recognize it and it may not even be for a phonograph. Does anyone here recognize it?
Thanks!
Dave D

[TinfoilPhono]

It's for a Hawthorne & Sheble cabinet. A very hard crank to find.

[Mormon S]

Wow, and I just acquired one from a trade, and it needs to be re nickel plated...

Martin

[Dave D]

Thanks for helping me out! I guess I need to look for the rest of the machine now!
Dave D

[phonogfp]

I realize that conventional collector wisdom has claimed for many years that these cranks were supplied with Hawthorne & Sheble cabinets, but I've yet to see any period documentation for that. The catalogs I've seen have referred to a "winding crank extension," but never a crank. Why would H&S supply a crank when the machine already had one? The extension was all that was needed.

I'm not stating these nickeled cranks were NOT supplied with H&S cabinets, but I'd be interested in seeing some proof that they WERE.

George P.

[Mormon S]

I realize that conventional collector wisdom has claimed for many years that these cranks were supplied with Hawthorne & Sheble cabinets, but I've yet to see any period documentation for that. The catalogs I've seen have referred to a "winding crank extension," but never a crank. Why would H&S supply a crank when the machine already had one? The extension was all that was needed.

I'm not stating these nickeled cranks were NOT supplied with H&S cabinets, but I'd be interested in seeing some proof that they WERE.

George P.

The handles/pull rings on many of the H&S cabinets were nickel plated, so perhaps the "luxury" upgrade to the large cabinet included a nickel plated crank to match. I assume the reason for the crank extensions was to not make a different crank for every type of phonograph that the cabinet could house, but rather an easily machined part that could be adjusted for each model.

Curiously, the ad posted by TinfoilPhono does not show a crank at all, but this advertisement does. That is obviously NOT clear evidence, but thought I would include. I also would like to know if the hole on Edison cranks are the same size as those on the nickel plated cranks. (Side note; I have yet to see an examples of a douglas crane socket)

Martin

[TinfoilPhono]

All of the H&S cabinets I have seen use this crank (for what that's worth). The original Home crank would be too short to fit the shaft in my cabinet. This crank is noticeably longer.