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Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 11:57 am
by Ho_Hum
I just saw this DD for sale on facebook, but I have mixed feelings about it. I understand that the legs are often broken and finding one with the legs and nice oxidized reproducer is nice, but on the other hand, the bed plate is annihilated (I dread to see the motor!) and it looks like it could be refinished. Its $100, do you guys think it would be worth it?
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:02 pm
by 52089
Absolutely go for it. The oxidized reproducer is easily worth more than $100 if the stylus is good. The only downside of the early machines is that motor parts are a bit harder to find because the early motors weren't made as long. You should still be able to find anything you need.
The legs are significantly stronger on the A150 than they are on the A100. It's highly unlikely that the legs will break.
I don't see any sign of refinishing around the decal.
If this were near me, I'd already be in the car to at least check it out.
Do be aware that you must remove the motor from the cabinet before moving it. The motor in this model is not bolted down, so it's essential that you remove the motor and horn before turning it sideways.
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:23 pm
by drh
To be honest, I think my A-150 is the best-sounding Edison machine I own. I like the cabinet design, too--although I know that's a matter of taste. One word of warning, though: these machines were sold with a set of six boxlike albums for record storage, and once you own the machine you'll probably get this overwhelming urge to assemble a set of the albums to "complete" it, just as I did. Just be forewarned, the albums are worth a lot more than the machine is.
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:43 pm
by Ho_Hum
52089 wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 12:02 pm
Absolutely go for it. The oxidized reproducer is easily worth more than $100 if the stylus is good. The only downside of the early machines is that motor parts are a bit harder to find because the early motors weren't made as long. You should still be able to find anything you need.
The legs are significantly stronger on the A150 than they are on the A100. It's highly unlikely that the legs will break.
I don't see any sign of refinishing around the decal.
If this were near me, I'd already be in the car to at least check it out.
Do be aware that you
must remove the motor from the cabinet before moving it. The motor in this model is not bolted down, so it's essential that you remove the motor and horn before turning it sideways.
I was thinking that the glossy outside had been refinished and the dull interior had been preserved. How can you tell if the stylus is good? I have no experience with DD machines!
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:06 pm
by 52089
To test the stylus, you "play" a record in the blank area between the end of the recorded grooves and the label. Then look at that area in bright light. If you see that the stylus is making marks, then the stylus is bad and needs to be placed, which is $100+ by itself.
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:36 pm
by PeterF
The oxidized hardware (note the matching horn neck!) alone is worth the price of admission. You can always pull a good stylus from another DD reproducer that’s has bad cosmetics - easy to switch them when the replacement of the diaphragm and gaskets is done.
This is a great introduction to the world of diamond discs and you should jump on it!
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:40 pm
by Ho_Hum
My main concern is whatever lies beneath that bed plate. With that much rust or corrosion or whatever it is, I can't imagine that the motor under it was spared.
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 2:16 pm
by PeterF
Doubtful that you will see anything related. The bed plate (and horn) paint of that era is notoriously poor. The paint shop just had it wrong at the time. So with the paint failure, surface rust is natural. The motor won’t necessarily have rust.
Just go look. Don’t be scared - price is real right and it will not last.
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 3:21 pm
by gramophone-georg
Yeah, that's a paint adhesion issue. Flaking, but not bubbling.
Re: Edison A150
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:26 pm
by gunnarthefeisty
Ho_Hum wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 1:40 pm
My main concern is whatever lies beneath that bed plate. With that much rust or corrosion or whatever it is, I can't imagine that the motor under it was spared.
Big deal, right?
Every lower end Edison uses the same motor. Simply buy another.