The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently bought my first Edison Business Phonograph. In all of my years of collecting phonographs I've never really wanted one and, in fact, have passed on buying them until about a month ago.

A prior owner cut all but two of the wires attached to the motor. I have then labelled those wires in my picture as "1" and "2" with marker on duct tape.

Mine is a model D Edison Business Phonograph. It also has a rheostat attached to the rear of the cabinet with AC and DC cycles dial settings.

Please see the pictures below and ANY HELP is sincerely appreciated. I really would like to get this phonograph running. I don't really care about operating it on DC which it appears to be capable of. I only want to be able to operate this on AC if possible. But that said, I'm open for anything do get it running again.

Thanks,
Doug

Hi Doug,

I have an exact machine with the same motor, rheostat and wiring that I got going a long time ago. If you'd like to borrow it for an indefinite period of time to iron out your wiring situation you'd be welcome.
The motor is a universal motor that will run on 110 volts AC or DC. I think it would be an exercise in futility to try to draw up a working schematic to cover all those cut leads. Or I could look at it and do the same thing for you if it were reassembled first. I hope the motor and the rheostat are ok. They were on my machine so unless somebody screwed it up before you got it, it should be.

Bob

Hi Bob,
Thank you ever so much for your helpful comments and your kind consideration. It would be incredibly helpful for me to make the drive to pick up and very carefully examine yours here at my place for a short period of time and return it safely back to you. I believe the motor and rheostat on mine are fine. I'm confident that this will solve the mystery with mine. I'll send you an email soon. Thanks again, Bob!

Doug

OK !