Production dates for machines?

[Edisograph]

Is there anyway for someone to find the date that a machine rolled out of the factory?
Is it online or in a book?

Just trying to find resources for future use

[Ben the phono man]

Is there anyway for someone to find the date that a machine rolled out of the factory?
Is it online or in a book?

Just trying to find resources for future use

Our guy is George F. Paul, he can tell you pretty much anything you need to know.

[OrthoFan]

The only comprehensive online guide I know of is The Victor Victrola Page -- http://victor-victrola.com/ -- which provides a serial number dating guide for most models.
This, of course, is limited to Victor Talking Machine Co. products.
(Direct jump to all of the models listed -- http://victor-victrola.com/new_page_2.htm

OrthoFan

[phonogfp]

Well thank you, Ben, for the glowing testimonial, but I'm simply a student of the field like many others here.

For information on Victors and Victrolas, there's an excellent website: http://www.victor-victrola.com/
It may not provide exact production/shipping dates, but you'll get pretty close.

For Edison cylinder Phonographs, I can provide month and year for most machines sold by the National Phonograph Company up to May 1908; thus when it left the factory. This information is currently being shared through a series of articles on the Edison Gem (which appeared in the June 2023 issue of the APS magazine), the Edison Standard (which will appear in the December 2023 issue), the Edison Home (which will appear in the magazine next year), and the Edison Concert (which will appear in the magazine next year). A detailed article on the Edison Spring Motor/Triumph appeared in the December 2019 issue. Eventually, all the dating charts (1896-May 1908) will be posted on the APS website. NOT AN APS MEMBER? You certainly should be! https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

Columbia machines are more difficult, but - depending on the model - I may be able to help narrow things down. I've contributed a number of articles to the APS magazine on Columbia Graphophones, which are favorites of mine. APS members have online access to all back issues.

George P.

[phonogfp]

I forgot to include online data for the very popular Edison "Chippendales" (C 250 and C 19), which is one of the free articles on the APS website: https://www.antiquephono.org/#/collectiondetails/61

George P.

[Edisograph]

Thank you all so much!