The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A friend recently scored an empty I-A cabinet and is wondering if he can simply drop the mech from a raggedy-case Amb III he has into the I-A case. How say ye?

I'd have to vote nay on that proposal.

1A works turn up from time to time. Personally I'd wait and try to at least get the correct (1A) mechanism to put into the cabinet.

Just how raggedy is that III cabinet. They are not too common and many of the survivors are amputees...

I would build the 1A with 1A components. I believe the Amberola III was more like the Amberola 1B mechanism.

Here is an 1A mechanism that would clean up very nice. The price hurts but they really don't come up that often in this good of shape.

http://cgi.ebay.com/EDISON-AMBEROLA-1A- ... 2c58f3b535

Is your Amberola III case that bad that it cannot be salvaged? You have pictures of it?

Steve

I agree with Bruce and Steve that mixing a III mechanism with a 1A cabinet makes little sense. The numbers won't match, and the result will be anachronistic. I'd rather see a completely rebuilt III cabinet housing the III mechanism - - at least it would be historically correct. To drop a III mechanism into a 1A cabinet results in a high-end frankenphone. Someone, someday, would be trying to fix the mess.

George P.

I have two nearly complete 1A mechanisms plus anoher bedplate w/o motor plus other 1A parts. I am quite sure Steve Farmer could work his magic and end up with a complete working and restored 1A mech. Get ahold of me if interested.

mrvictormuseum wrote:I have two nearly complete 1A mechanisms plus anoher bedplate w/o motor plus other 1A parts. I am quite sure Steve Farmer could work his magic and end up with a complete working and restored 1A mech. Get ahold of me if interested.

Please check your private message re. interest in some specific 1A parts.

Thanks

Again, I pose this question for a friend -- I don't have the cabinet or the Amberola III in question. I don't think his intent is to permanently marry these parts, but just to let them date for a while so that he has something that can be enjoyed until other cabinets and mechanisms come along. I don't think my friend approves of mixed marriages!

How about if someone will just answer the question of whether or not it can be done, then hold the debate about whether or not it should. Apparently he just wants to use the mechanism in the best cabinet if possible. I would think it should work but I have never had any early Amberolas, so I can't give an authorative answer.

Jim

Yes, it would work. You could swap mechanisms from one machine to the other in a few minutes and no modifications are required. Jerry Blais

Thanks, Jerry. I assumed you could, but have no first-hand knowledge about it.

Jim