The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Do you ever wonder who bought those machines when they were new? I should present this as a quiz: we take you now to a summer day in 1927 at a family reunion in Southern Ontario. But the question is, who in this picture owns an Edison Fireside with a Cygnet horn and a Model K reproducer? This is a pic of the the children of my great great grandparents. My great grandfather and great grandmother are the couple on the left. The rest are siblings of him and their spouses. Believe it or not at this late date the lady who owned the Fireside was still buying new cylinders for it: once an Edison fan always an Edison fan. Give up? She's the old dear second from the right in the front row. " Aunt Sarah" Moore who was born in the 1850's. Family members tell of dropping in to visit and finding Aunt Sarah often sitting on the veranda on a summer afternoon listening to the Fireside as it played in the parlour.
And I didn't inherit the Fireside and the boxes and boxes of cylinders, but I've seen it several times.

Jim

Wonderful story, Jim! Thanks for sharing this. I really enjoy seeing old pictures with connections to early phonographs and music boxes. I would have picked the couple on the far left (your great grandparents) before you told us the real answer. Too bad you didn't get the Fireside and cylinders. Best Wishes - Doug

I cant help feeling a little sad that the phonograph collector of the family doesn't have the family phonograph, but it's good that it's at least remained in the family all these years, & I'm sure the current owners must have a fair amount of sentimental attachment to Aunt Sarah's phonograph and records, otherwise you'd have it, so I guess it's in good hands (hopefully )
It must be an interesting insight looking through the record collection too, seeing what entertained your family all those years ago. At least that aspect could be recreated within your own collection.
Was it Aunt Sarah's Fireside that influenced your own phono collecting interest, or did your interest bring the Fireside & stories to light?

It was the first Edison Fireside I had ever seen, the first time I had seen a Cygnet horn, and the first time I had ever heard Silver Bell by Jones and Murray ( on wax Amberol) and after hearing it I wanted a cylinder machine in the worst way! At that time it was owned by her grandson and now it's owned by her great grandchildren. It had the early Cygnet horn suspension: no spring and the metal ball and socket connector to the reproducer, meaning that it was probably bought in late 1909 or early 1910. Later I worked on its reproducer for the grandson. He actually smashed the top of the original by dropping it when demonstrating the machine at some lodge meeting or something of the sort. I replaced the top for him. But the records were interesting in that they ranged from two minute cylinders to LATE Blue Amberols. So when you wonder who on earth was still buying cylinders in the late 20's here's the Canadian girl!
I can tell you where she bought them too: Percy Seager's Drug Store in Brigden, Ontario, a village of 500 people. Seager was one of those small retailers who sold Blue Amberols as a sideline. And judging from the stock I saw up to the bitter end. They were demonstrated on an oak Amberola 75. I worked on IT too for Percy's son. I wanted it in the worst way but understandably he didn't want to sell.

Jim