The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi, can anyone help date an Edison Bell Standard, last patent date 1889, serial number 5853 ?
Also, it is missing the gear cover - is this the same as an ordinary Edison Standard ?

Cheers

I’ve found that most Edison Bell machines of this type are loosely described as ‘circa’ 1904 or 1905. It appears the serial number has not produced the pages of response that an HMV 102 portable serial number would.

If you can post a picture of the machine in question that might help with the year and help identify how the missing gear cover should look. It would be interesting to see it too.

1905 catalogue illustration

Hi Gram,

Sorry I didn’t realise there was a duplicate thread on this with some good pictures.