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vtlamark's thread about his Amberola 1-A, serial #3137, made me think about serial numbers for the 1-A and 1-B machines. I own or have owned the following big Amberolas along with vtlamark's:

#1053 - Mahogany Lyric Grill 1-A, with a single swoop to the lid.
#2468 - Mahogany 1-A, with a single swoop to the lid.
#2553 - Dark Oak 1-A, with a double swoop to the lid.
#3137 - vtlamark's 1-A

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#3555 - Mahogany 1-B with a single swoop to the lid.
#4306 - Golden Oak 1-B with a double swoop to the lid.
#4359 - Dark Oak 1-B with a double swoop to the lid.

All of the 1-A and 1-B machines are interesting. The 1-A was aimed at the "high class" trade. Sales of 1-A machines were modest at best. The introduction of the 1-B must have been a last gasp attempt at the high class customer. I assume the numbering of machines was a continuation from the A to B machines. If machine #3555 was an early 1-B why would it have been offered in the more dated cabinet of the earlier 1-A machines? Was the Edison Company forced to install the new I-B mechanism in the more obsolete cabinet? Did an order of new cabinets not meet quality benchmarks forcing Edison to use empty obsolete cabinets? The net effect seems to have been a botched attempt at the introduction of the Amberola 1-B. Other suggestions and opinions?

Jerry B.

I addressed all this in 2009 in a series of three articles appearing in the APS magazine (back in the old black & white days!). Here's the one which deals with the cabinets and the transition from the IA to the !B.

George P.

Thanks George.

Glad to help, Jerry.

George P.