The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Dear all,

I kindly ask for an advice and opinion from expert people here about an Edison Standard 2 clip which I am evaluating to buy.

I attach here all pictures I have. I am thinking mostly about the horn and the model H reproducer (it seems to have a 4 minute upgrade) and also about what is visibile of the crank.

Also, are the 2 clips on the bottom case close to the original? From other pictures on the internet it does not seem to have the screw that goes vertically in the wooden box..

I already asked people about the patent plate and it turned out this was a UK-market (edison-bell).

Again many thanks for your expertise.

Not sure what your questions really are. The Model H reproducer has somewhat large hole in the 6 o'clock position. There should be a hole there, but this one looks too big. Like maybe a repair has been done the hinge block. Could be okay.

The horn is cut down from an automotive horn of the 30's or 40's. It's most likely not a phonograph horn.

The crank looks okay, from what can be seen of it.

The 2 vertical screws you refer to were probably a later addition. Possibly meant to correct a loose fitting top. Not a big deal. The clips look original, from what little can be seen. (If you get this, NEVER pick it up using the carrying handle. Neither the clips nor the old glue in the lid can be trusted to lift the machine. Okay to steady it with the handle, but support the machine from underneath.)

Overall, it's a nice machine. Personally, for an early Standard, I would prefer that it hadn't been coverted to 2/4 minutes, but that's my personal taste, which does not effect its value, unless you feel the same.

It would be interesting to take a poll asking collectors how they'd like to find the early cylinder machines. If you had an opportunity to purchase a square top Standard, suitcase Home, or Spring Motor, would you prefer the machine in 2-minute form as it left the factory or would you prefer one with combination gearing?

Jerry B.

The bedplate is not hinged and would normally lift off of the case. I think the two screws you've asked about were added by a previous owner to keep it secure on the case.

I assume that you have seen this in person and it works well.

James.

PS: Answering Jerry's question and JerryVan's comment ... It would be nice to find it as it was built. I like having appropriate added features that Edison and others offered.

It looks like this is an earlier model series that takes a different straight gear cover than the later dog boned cover. Also I do not see any holes for the gear cover in the bedplate which was standard on the earlier models. This could be converted back to its original format by taking out the two/four minute gear attachment if you want. As Jerry says you will also eventually need another 14 inch horn for that phonograph. It looks like a nice two latch square box. If it runs and is between $ 400 and $ 500 it is not a bad deal. It would be nice if you told us what the asking price is. Also do not play brown wax cylinders on this without a standard reproducer. An C reproducer will hurt them. Edison made about 40000 of these and I believe that the ones that were sent to England were included in that total. Tom

Roaring20s wrote: Sun Feb 12, 2023 11:41 pm The bedplate is not hinged and would normally lift off of the case. I think the two screws you've asked about were added by a previous owner to keep it secure on the case.

I assume that you have seen this in person and it works well.

James.

PS: Answering Jerry's question and JerryVan's comment ... It would be nice to find it as it was built. I like having appropriate added features that Edison and others offered.

Jerry I like the earlier ones as original as possible. I own several of these and one came with the 2/4 gears and I left it on since I already had several originals and it is on a four clip. I imagine it may have taken a special 2/4 or fitting to put it on is why I left mine on. I have one of the English ones too and it is original. They seemed to run a block of serial numbers on the English phonographs. Tom

Dear all,

thank you for your opinions!

The price that the owner asks is 750 Euros.

I know this is higher that what you are used to in the US, but this is in Europe, Italy to be precise. Phonographs here are less common than in the US and so also prices are higher.

Like many of you, I also personally prefer this machine to be as much as close to the original "out of the fabric".

Anyway, in this period I was looking for two machines:

1)edison standard 2 clip or 4 clip (pre-1900)
2)any edison phonograph which can play 4 minute cylinders

And this machine satisfies both my requirements fortunately.

With a much higher economical capability I would also skip this and buy separately two or more machines, but my means are limited and according to your judgment I think I will try to lower the price and buy this machine.

Many thanks to every of you!

Roaring20s wrote: Sun Feb 12, 2023 11:41 pm The bedplate is not hinged and would normally lift off of the case. I think the two screws you've asked about were added by a previous owner to keep it secure on the case.

That makes perfect sense!

It still might be worth while to dicker a little. A lot of people will lower there price if asked and some of the deficit items are pointed out. Tom

One more thing to consider: Are you going to be playing it much?

The early Standard motors were very under-powered. I really wouldn't want to use it to play 4 minute records because you'll be pushing the available spring power to the motor's limit. The motor design was a work in progress - many machines back in the day were returned for manufacturing defects (which is probably why you see a mix of very early serial numbers on machines that look to be slightly newer). Those early machines were also used much longer than newer examples and tend to exhibit more wear - especially in the delicate lower drive train. To address these issues, the phonograph works totally re-designed the modal A motor so that by the end of 1901, few of the parts would interchange.

Don't get me wrong - they are cool machines and I do play my 2 clip machine once in a while for demonstrations, but I play my 1905 Banner case Model A a whole lot more. What ever you end up doing, please keep us updated.

Regards,
Martin