The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hello, please bear with me as I am not a collector. This machine was passed down in the family from my great grandparents who were the original owners. It's a Edison model E with a Cygnet #11 horn with an O reproducer. I had it set up in our front room at one point and used to play it. Unfortunately, we have kept it in the attic for many years and that probably wasn't the best idea. The belt was homemade and needs to be replaced, and the mandrel now is a hard turn, so I'm not sure if it's gummed up from being in the attic so long or what may have caused that to happen. My grandfather thought it was a good idea to reinforce the cover as shown in the photos. It is intact and doesn't need the supports as near as I can tell, but he was concerned about the weight being carried by the lid. The motor is strong and is as quiet as a mouse. The top end of the reproducer is damaged, but has been that way as long as it has been in my possession (30 years). My knowledge regarding value is limited to what I've seen online and I'm not looking to make a fortune on this sale, but I'm more interested in someone owning it who will care for it and appreciate it. I wouldn't know where to begin on shipping this item either. Of course, it's very heavy and the horn would definitely be a challenge due to the size. I'm in Oregon, so local pick up would be fine as well if you're nearby. I'm also happy to answer any questions you may have or to take additional photos as requested. I really hate to part the machine out (for sentimental reasons) but I certainly can't control what someone might do after it's sold, so we shall see. I do have a box of cylinder disks as well, but can consider selling them on the other board or let them go with the machine if wanted by the buyer. Thanks for your consideration!

Those reinforcements in tne lid is original, factory shipping.
Bearing on mandrel is shrinking and making it hard to turn. Needs replaced, quite normal

Thank you for the info!

Your Triumph is a nice model that you shouldn't have too much difficulty selling it here. The mandrel shaft bushing can sometimes be a little challenging but collectors generally don't have too much difficulty getting the old one out and, new ones shouldn't be too difficult to source.

There are members in your neck of the woods, and one or two will probably chime in eventually.

It should be noted that the lid handle is NOT meant for lifting and carrying the Phonograph, that will lead to disaster! Just wanted to help you avoid a catastrophe.

Good luck with your sale,
Fran

Thanks for the info, Fran!

My first hope is that someone in your family would want the Edison. The Triumph model was quite expensive and the #11 Cygnet appears exceptional. The belt repairs easy and a swollen mandrel bushing, made of pot metal, is typical and expected. That repair takes a bit more skill. I'm also in Oregon and would help with the repairs. Please give me a call.

Jerry B.
541-990-0781

Thank you, Jerry! It would be nice to get it repaired. I just feel awful leaving it in the attic. We will have to ask our daughter how she feels about it. The grandkids (6 and 8) saw it when I took it down and they are enamored with it. I appreciate your offer to help!

aaw wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 3:52 pm Thank you, Jerry! It would be nice to get it repaired. I just feel awful leaving it in the attic. We will have to ask our daughter how she feels about it. The grandkids (6 and 8) saw it when I took it down and they are enamored with it. I appreciate your offer to help!

If family members are interested, please think several times about disposing of it. Having a machine that has come down through the family is a fondly held dream most collectors never get to realize. Your machine is set up to play both two- and four-minute cylinders. The latter would include Edison blue amberols; they are made of celluloid with a plaster core, plenty sturdy enough to withstand handling by 6- or 8-year-old fingers. There were also some celluloid two-minute cylinders, which would also be safe bets. Lots of common titles can be had in those formats fairly inexpensively, too. Wax cylinders are more fragile, with the 4-minute wax amberols particularly so, although I'd think there's no reason a responsible 8-year-old kid couldn't learn to handle them with appropriate care.

Please , Please….. Give Jerry Blais ( Jerry B. ) a call. You won’t find a better person to help you get an idea of what it would take to get that beautiful Edison up and running again , nor a finer human being to deal with in general. The thought of that machine continuing to be passed down to a fifth generation ( or More ) gives me goosebumps ! The kiddies don’t understand yet …. But they WILL …. And they will love you even more when they realize that you gave them a chance that very, very few of their generation ever got. This is not a rare vase that was passed down for generations that sits on the shelf and needs dusting occasionally. This is something that will truly be “Alive” with music and history talking to them every time they play a record.
Please call Jerry.

Thank you all, ever so much for your information and input. I really had to consider my decision closely. I have spent years recording our family genealogy and my wife and I have so many heirlooms from both sides of our families. Our most cherished possessions are family photographs dating as far back to the 19th century as well as many home movies dating to the late 1930's. The sad truth of the matter is that nobody in the family is interested enough to care about the phonograph. We have one child, our daughter, who think's it's "cool" but admitted that it would sit in her attic as well until it was time to pass it on to her children. It's a chain that I'd like to break. It sat in our grandfathers, attic, my fathers attic and now ours and it has been rough on the poor machine. It really is time to let it go to someone who can fix it, display it, and appreciate it to it's fullest extent. Thank you again for your heartfelt concerns as it has been a difficult decision to make.