The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Greetings. I recently found an Edison Triumph in the wild, and I'm trying to decide what to do about the decals. I've never picked up a machine before that made me consider replacing any of the case decals; usually I avoid machines that are iffy in that department, but when you find a Triumph -- well, that changes your calculus, I suppose. Anyway, I'm trying to decide whether or not I should replace the banner and the bedplate decals, and I would appreciate hearing what you would do if the machine were yours. I know it's a matter of personal preference, and I intend to hang onto this one ad infinitum, but at the same time I don't want to devalue it or or make it look worse for the effort. Whenever possible -- and that means almost always -- I prefer to keep everything external original, but since I regard this as a borderline case, I'd be really interested to hear what you all think. I've included pictures.

I've also included one of the ID tag, with the serial number clear, and I'm wonder if anyone (George P., maybe?) can give me some idea of when this would have left the factory. I assumed it was a Triumph A based on the case (corner pillars, etc.) and banner decal, but after reading Frow recently, I'm no longer certain.

Thanks!

I would absolutely leave the banner decal and case as-is. I would do some clean-up on the top works & bed plate and then figure out where to go from there.

Ditto.

Doesn't look that bad to me. I'd keep it original.

I would definitely leave it as is. That machine is in good shape and shows nice signs of good use. Nice find!

David

I'd clean it up and see how it looks. I try to never replace an original decal unless it is a complete basket case.

This is a pretty early Triumph A. If I were you, I would not replace the decal or pin striping. It's always best to keep them in original condition unless it is really bad. This is not really bad. It is in need of a very good, but gentle cleaning.

This looks like a proper antique; I'd leave everything exactly as it is except for perhaps a very gentle cleaning and a treatment with Renaissance Wax after it's been allowed to sit a bit and dry out. If I was a seller of this machine I'd say that the decal was in rather nice condition; if I was in the market for a Triumph I'd say that I did pretty good buying one that was still in good shape!

Fine old machine, and I hope it lasts you for years and years. I'd find a very nice horn, original but with a touch of age, and build the whole out-fit using well-aged original parts to give it the look of something that's been built for decades. You already have a nice-looking reproducer with that slight touch of yellowing nickel, a sort of color gradient of green to brown on the top frame where the lid has been sitting, and that wonderful old decal. Find a proper antique horn and go for it. Patinated brass bells, large morning-glories with that dusty-brown rust look through the paint, aftermarkets with a hint of fading on the colors--it can look pretty darn cool.

We tend to have some pretty fine restorations on the forum here but there's something to be said about a machine that shows its age and still manages to look good--those are the ones a lot of serious collectors seek out. I don't mind a restoration; my phonograph collection is mostly old wrecks and fix-up jobs (with a few notable exceptions, thankfully; I've been fortunate enough to buy some quality ones.) But the point of a restoration is to put the phonograph in better condition; that Triumph is already in such a fine state that it looks to only need a drop of oil and maybe some gaskets and a drive belt, before it's ready for the living-room cylinder cabinet.

I’d leave it too! I love the look of it. It’s mostly complete as well. Great find!

If you aren't happy with it, you should sell it. You'll find a ready buyer.