Edison Polyphone on Ebay 10K

[fmblizz]

Too rich for my blood but looks like it's correct but then who am I LOL .

fmblizz

http://cgi.ebay.com/Edison-Polyphone-Cy ... 2eb4316735

[phonogfp]

I agree that the price seems a tad high, but it's in awfully nice condition. That said, it has copper diaphragms, so someone worked on it at some point. A very nice Polyphone.

I know a guy who found one just like this at Brimfield only a few years ago... Sitting in the back of a seller's pickup, and priced at $400. Now that's the way to find them!

George P.

[TinfoilPhono]

That's a very rare variation of the Polyphone.... However I'm surprised to see that version mounted on a Suitcase Home rather than a Model A. That is the later National Phonograph Co. model, of which I've only seen a few over the years. The casting is dirty and hard to see in the picture, but I'm sure it is marked on the top, around the reproducers, with the National Phonograph Company engraving.

The "common" (relatively speaking) Polyphone attachment used two modified Automatic reproducers, with the normal adjusting wings on the side. The weights were hinged at the bottom, as usual, but there were two limit screws rather than one in the center, and where the normal limit screw would be mounted there were plates with 'fingers' to keep the reproducers aligned. The reproducers were firmly held in the casting with two large head screws but were easily removable.

On the National Phono attachment as in this auction the reproducers are built right into the casting itself. They are not removable. The diaphragm and gaskets are mounted in the casting, and the top plate screws into that casting. The weights are heavier and are hinged at the top. They are totally unlike the usual Polyphone reproducers.

Given the condition and the rarity I don't think that is wildly out of line. There was a very clean, perhaps lightly restored one at Union a few years back at $14K. It subsequently sold, I don't know at what final price.

But, as I mentioned at the beginning, I've only seen that National Phono design on Model A Homes, Standards, and on one H&S cabinet Concert. I wouldn't have expected to see it on a Suitcase.


EDIT TO ADD: Here's a picture comparing the early 'regular' style to the National Phono design. A world of difference:

[phonogfp]

Rene,

I thought it was a National Phono. Co. version too, but I can't make out any marking. I've never seen this version without the National marking, but there's always a first time... This certainly is a late Polyphone (ca.1901). I'm hoping some documentation comes to light on Edison's brief marketing of these interesting attachments.

George P.

[TinfoilPhono]

The markings on these are so hard to see even under good lighting that it's far from obvious. After tweaking the eBay picture a bit I'd wager there is some marking along the inner rim, as you can faintly see in the photo of another National Polyphone on the left. You'd really need to take a close look to tell, and it may be very hard to see under all the dirt.



It's not a certainty, but....

[Shawn]

This rare, National Polyphone arm did in fact show up on Suitcase models. Here is a picture of another one.

I am aware of 5 of the National version of the Polyphone attachments on Homes. Two on late suitcase machines, two on green oak machines, and one on a red banner machine.

[solophoneman]

I would imagine that an original Polyphone Horn is probably just as rare as the device. What would one be valued at if one was up for sale ?

[phonogfp]

Great information, Shawn - thanks! And Rene, the photo you posted of one of the National-marked Polyphones certainly leaves open the possibility - - more likely the probability - - that the eBay example is marked too.

George P.

[estott]

What gets me is that the seller knows next to nothing about this machine: Didn't have a horn? That was the whole point of the attachment. Aside from throwing VICTOR into the description for keyword spam he's just giving a vague generic description of how nice it looks.

[Retrograde]

What gets me is that the seller knows next to nothing about this machine: Didn't have a horn? That was the whole point of the attachment. Aside from throwing VICTOR into the description for keyword spam he's just giving a vague generic description of how nice it looks.

perhaps the seller meant this one didn't happen to have a horn when he acquired it. Who knows, the seller probably doesn't have much experience with mechanical music.