Edison-Bell ‘Spring Motor’ with Bettini carriage
Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:27 am
I found this Edison-Bell ‘Spring Motor’ Phonograph with a Bettini carriage on Facebook Marketplace a couple of weeks ago. It was a 3.5-hour drive one-way to fetch it.
The seller told me that she had purchased it along with several pieces of furniture and bric-a-brac from a man in his 80s who was clearing-out his household in preparation of going into an assisted-living facility. He told her that he had a horn, the lid, and some “other stuff”, that he hadn’t come across yet, but I committed to purchase them if/when they surface. I certainly hope that the “other stuff” and horn are the missing Bettini parts. He brought the machine with him from Ireland when he emigrated to the U.S. over 50 years ago.
In the drawer was a Bettini diaphragm wrench and an unusual oil bottle.
In place of the missing reproducer assembly is a very nicely made weighted arm that I believe is intended to prevent the carriage assembly from chattering when shaving a cylinder. I’ve never seen another weight like this.
I welcome any comments or insights from Bettini aficionados.
The seller told me that she had purchased it along with several pieces of furniture and bric-a-brac from a man in his 80s who was clearing-out his household in preparation of going into an assisted-living facility. He told her that he had a horn, the lid, and some “other stuff”, that he hadn’t come across yet, but I committed to purchase them if/when they surface. I certainly hope that the “other stuff” and horn are the missing Bettini parts. He brought the machine with him from Ireland when he emigrated to the U.S. over 50 years ago.
In the drawer was a Bettini diaphragm wrench and an unusual oil bottle.
In place of the missing reproducer assembly is a very nicely made weighted arm that I believe is intended to prevent the carriage assembly from chattering when shaving a cylinder. I’ve never seen another weight like this.
I welcome any comments or insights from Bettini aficionados.