The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was just wondering if there is a way to date Edison Class M machines based on serial number.

Unfortunately, no, I don't believe so. According to documents of the time, the Edison Phonograph Works ceased manufacture of Phonographs in July 1890. Lippincott's North American Phonograph Company was unable to purchase all the machines for which it had contracted, so the orders stopped along with manufacture. As rentals were returned, they were evidently refurbished and re-cased as necessary to promote sales. Until manufacture was resumed in 1897, the industry was using the 1890-ish components that were sitting around in various inventories.

For this reason, a collector may encounter an Edison Spring-Motor with a Class M topworks bearing a relatively early serial number. This is why the Triton motors were serially numbered while no other Edison motors were. The numbers on the top works became less and less meaningful until the 1897 serial re-setting (which I believe was at 24,000). See the article on Edison Spring-Motor/Triumph Phonographs in the Dec. 2019 issue of The Antique Phonograph.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:Unfortunately, no, I don't believe so. According to documents of the time, the Edison Phonograph Works ceased manufacture of Phonographs in July 1890. Lippincott's North American Phonograph Company was unable to purchase all the machines for which it had contracted, so the orders stopped along with manufacture. As rentals were returned, they were evidently refurbished and re-cased as necessary to promote sales. Until manufacture was resumed in 1897, the industry was using the 1890-ish components that were sitting around in various inventories.

For this reason, a collector may encounter an Edison Spring-Motor with a Class M topworks bearing a relatively early serial number. This is why the Triton motors were serially numbered while no other Edison motors were. The numbers on the top works became less and less meaningful until the 1897 serial re-setting (which I believe was at 24,000). See the article on Edison Spring-Motor/Triumph Phonographs in the Dec. 2019 issue of The Antique Phonograph.

George P.

Thanks George. I really appreciate the information.

You're very welcome, Mike.

George P.