Recent Ebay Auction - Edison Army Navy Machine

[brianu]

did anyone watch this auction on ebay, or perhaps end up as the buyer?... I've been looking for one of these ever since I mistakenly sold one that I used to own a few years ago - regrets, I've had a few (at least it went to a member of this forum)... this army navy machine was in the chicago area. it looked like a really nice, unusually complete example, but the price - I've never seen one sell for so much before, nearly $1600 (and we're supposed to be in some sort of recession??). even though I've been in downsizing mode and haven't bought much of anything over the past couple years, I was prepared to tap the savings for this one... at least until a certain point.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

[transformingArt]

A Portable Edison player - the guy who had to carry this thing would be pretty muscular, since this thing would be really heavy. In fact, I wonder if anyone could carry this with one arm, just like any other portables would do.

Here's a video on YouTube showing one of these in action.


[youtubehq]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl2Lgg1fxBA[/youtubehq]

[estott]

They're interesting, but just a case of the records alone would weigh nearly as much as a conventional disc machine. From what I've seen some hornless Victor's (IV or VI) made it overseas to places like YMCA canteens, but a lot of soldiers just picked up French and German machines.

I know that people sent records over to camps though- Vernon Castle asked Irene to send over the latest dances and Broadway hits (especially "Watch Your Step" which they'd appeared in) but he reminded her that the last box had all arrived broken.

[barnettrp21122]

This beast is barely portable. It must weigh at least sixty pounds, and is too big for one person to get his arms around and pick up without throwing out his back! You'd need two strapping doughboys to lug this around, hence the sturdy handles on either side. I wonder how many units made it past the US shores. I believe most were sold to groups sponsoring military populations stateside. Each unit came with an oil can, grease container, a vial of powdered graphite, and an extra spring and barrel fastened to the inner back bottom of the player. The manual included directions on spring replacement and lubrication. I think it's interesting that in the case of this phonograph model, beyond basic mechanical maintainence you'd probably want to celebrate the wear and tear on the cabinet caused from the wartime use. The horn was the No. 250 size, the same as the laboratory models.
I had heard that they were often raffled off following the war. They'd be out of place in a living room, too big for most tabletops, and I imagine many were relegated to a barn or basement. They're quite a fascinating piece of history nonetheless!
Bob

[gramophone78]

I for one would like to know a couple of things regarding this machine. First,do we know how many were made and was there a cylinder A&N model in Edisons roster of machines??.

[barnettrp21122]

Looking in George Frow's phonograph books, I couldn't find any mention of an Edison cylinder Army Navy model, nor could I find production numbers. I did notice, though, that the weight is listed at 100 pounds!
Bob

[estott]

I'd say NO on an A&N Cylinder machine. Edison was doing this to show off his latest technology- I think he was just making cylinders to satisfy preexisting customers.

[Garret]

I've had two of these machines, one I restored and sold, and the other which is in the nicest original condition that you will ever see. I'd post pictures, but the one I have is not accessible to me at the moment. While I think $1600 is a little high, given the condition that it is in, I don't think it's too far out of line. I paid $1400 for mine in mint condition.

An Edison Army Navy cylinder machine was never sold, and I doubt that one was ever made. Interestingly enough, there are grey painted versions of the Edison Army Navy machine floating out there - they are rare as hens' teeth!

[Valecnik]

I was, like Brianu, thinking if this went low enough I might try for it. Agree it's an unsusually nice example.

I also agree it's hardly portable and to make it less so, they added that the 250 horn, the reserve spring barrel screwed into the back and the place in the lid where you could mount several DD records! They should have put wheels on it so you could pull it behind a horse.

If I were one of those doughboys, I'd probaly have left it in the barracks and opted to carry a few more canisters of ammo up to the front instead.

[phonogfp]

I also agree it's hardly portable and to make it less so, they added that the 250 horn, the reserve spring barrel screwed into the back and the place in the lid where you could mount several DD records!

I wouldn't argue with the company's claimed weight of 100 pounds - - it feels like every ounce of that to me! The mounting provision in the lid is not for records, but rather for the turntable.

As for production numbers, the eBay example suggests that at least 3000 of these left the factory. Mine is in the 1500 number range.

The idea of installing a talking machine into what amounts to an ammunition crate was sort of a crazy idea. As estott noted, there are numerous wartime photos showing U.S. soldiers & sailors with VV-IXs, and VV-VIs, which were perfectly serviceable in rear areas where recorded music would have been available. European armies were using a variety of parabolic machines (notably the Decca) as well as more delicate external horn varieties. No one but the Edison Phonograph Division offered a machine capable of surviving a direct hit with a grenade! Like Bob, I love the quirkiness of the thing.

George P.