The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As previously posted, I purchased a bare bones Concert as a Winter project. I'm pleased to say it is finished and now I can start on my next project (my new music master horn). Anyway, attached is a pic of the finished machine. I took the Concert down to the frame, cleaned everything, replaced a couple of parts that I was able to use from my Triumph parts machine (as they share much of the motor assembly with the Concert). The only real challenge was being unable to find an upper pulley, which was a bit chunked out. However, my friend JB Weld and a little patience made it work like new.

Thanks to Gregg (phonodecal.com) for the terrific bedplate decals. I was torn on refinishing it but it was beat up. So I went ahead, stripped, sanded, painted, glossed and decaled it. I did leave the upper assembly original, and just added a little clear to blend it in with the refinished bedplate. I am happy with the result. And a second thanks to Gregg for customizing a banner case decal to my liking. I understand it is not original, but I like it. If I ever find a second gen Concert case, this assembly will drop right in and be fully proper. Until or unless that occurs, this case will make a fine home for the former orphan Concert. Finally, thank you to all in the forum who have given me helpful tips. This is an invaluable resource.

I am really needing one good cylinder so I can demo this machine. If anyone has a Concert or Grand wax they would be willing to sell me, I would be most appreciative. I have one that works, but it has a repaired crack so, while functional, it is a little rough on the ears. If you have a collection and would be willing to part with just one, please message me.

Dan

wow that turned out great! The refinish looks really nice.

Good luck finding a concert cylinder.

Cheers,

David

Great job!!!!!

Dan,

Your Concert turned out very nice and I agree that Gregg's decals are the way to go if needed!

Can you post the serial number or send it to me? I'm compiling a list of Edison Concerts and would like to add yours.

Was it originally in a raised-panel "Triumph" case and if so, was there a banner decal? Very few were offered in that late case style so congrats on a very unusual machine!

Thanks,

Terry

Hi Terry, I'm also a St Louis guy from Kirkwood and now live in metro east. I bought the Concert as an orphan, missing its case but otherwise complete and just needing to be gone through. I'm a Triumph guy, so I was right at home working on it.

Having no case, in the middle of winter no less, I married it to a Triumph B raised panel from my parts machine and Gregg slightly shrunk a banner decal to fit. So, I have no idea for certain what case it was built in. ID plate photo attached.

I'm up to 9 Triumph machines. I just bought another last week that is in shipping. Would you please look at the pics and let me know what I have? It's in the very late B range but it has a 4 weight governor. 2/4 gearing with thumbnail speed change and end gate. How do you suppose it came up with that governor? I tried to change one from 3 to 4 and after I got into it, it appeared I had to change motor frame as well. I have read this may have been an option.

Dan

If it's any help, according to original Edison sales data, Concert #7179 left the factory in October 1901.

George P.

phonogfp wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2024 6:11 pm If it's any help, according to original Edison sales data, Concert #7179 left the factory in October 1901.

George P.

It's my current understanding that it is likely this was housed in a Gen 2 recessed case. But unable to confirm. Thanks for the info. Dan

Dan,

Your Concert SN places it in the Banner-case era - my lowest recorded SN is 4,860 and my highest is 12,805. There is a large overlap between Banners and raised panels with those being 8,983 through 12,874. Yours appears to have the earlier "Automatic style" carriage with clips while most later machines were set up for the "D" reproducer with no clips and set screw.

Regarding your Triumph B with four-weight governor, when Edison introduced the model D2 with four-weight governor, it was sold as a more stable speed control design so it's not surprising that dealers and owners "upgraded" older machines with the newer design. The governor itself was an easy swap. The new double-pad speed yoke was not a direct swap, so I doubt that the change provided much of an improvement.

We have an active group of collectors here in the St. Louis area. We call ourselves the Gateway Antique Phonograph Society (G.A.P.S.) and you are more than welcome to join us for our next get-together. Email me at the address below and copy our GAPS leaders at [email protected] and we'll add you to our next invite.

Thanks,

Terry Baer
[email protected]

Looks beautiful. I love it.