The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello All,

I recently acquired two Edison Gem Model D versions. Yes, collecting is a hobby/obsession *shrugs*
I have noticed that they both have slightly different Placards. I can't figure out what the justification would be to alter the Placards at the factory, does anyone have any information on why this would be?

Please refer photos attached

The second one has an additional patent from 1907 listed. This kind of thing happened with cylinder record boxes too.

It would be far to say the top placard would be made earlier based on the lack of the additional patent.

They are both combination types

The top data plate is the same type used on Gem Model Bs and Cs. The bottom data plate is numbered nearly 10,000 units later, includes a later patent, and added "Combination Type" at the top. It was simply a matter of using up the supply of earlier style data plates.

George P.

Hello,
Your patent dates is the key as they good for 17-20 years so most smart company's tweak out the product to get another 17-20 years from the last patent date.
Edison had so many variation of these transitional machines that is a great way of collecting these great machines is by the patent dates.
Very cool how you identify that as that is a large part of my collection is by variations and patent dates.
Kind regards,
Mark

Here are the 2 Gem E versions.....

Steve, it's interesting that on your Gem E plates, the later serial number is on the earlier style plate. It shows once again that inventories were mixed during transitions.

George P.

Previous discussion here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43483&p=256027&hili ... te#p256027

Thanks for linking in the previous discussion. The way things were done in the factory and all the slight variations in placards, parts used and such, is what makes this hobby so captivating.

Is anyone here able to place an approximate production date on there machines?

Many thanks

Concerning the Gem Es pictured above, the upper pic is of a regular 4 min Gem E and the lower pic is a 2 minute ICS (International Correspondence Schools) 2 minute Gem E.