The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So how many are in existence? The 275 lb. monster cylinder phonograph!

One of which I’m aware, heavily restored over 40 years ago. Used to be in Homer’s Museum in Texas. An empty cabinet was found about 5 years ago. Not sure what happened to it. I’m pretty sure that a ‘Peerless’ doesn’t weigh 375lbs!

Shipping weight with wooden crate 275 lbs

There is one complete original machine known to exist. I bought it from Bob Fulwider who bought it from Dennis Devine from Council Bluffs, Iowa. I restored it and sold it to Walt Bellm from Florida who had it in his museum. There was another one sold at the Larry Wojtkiewicz auction 20+ years ago in Omaha Nebraska. It was supposed to be complete but had been completely disassembled. I was the underbidder on that one. It disappeared into the collector woodwork and has never resurfaced. A third empty cabinet turned up a few years back and was purchased by a collector in Missouri. As far as I know he installed a US Opera mech in it which is nearly the same as the Peerless mech. Homer Deford of Texas never owned one of these machines. I know that for a fact. As far as the weight of these machines go, it probably weighs in the neighborhood of 80-100lbs. The 275lbs in the above ad is a bit much. I never did get a chance to put mine on the scale! I have to admit this is one spectacular machine!

Can anybody post pictures of the mechanics?

Here you go.

Those photos were taken in the mid 80's. I had just finished the restoration and was on my way to Union with the machine. I stopped by my friend's place in Ohio and we unloaded the machine and took photos. So John, where did you dig up those photos?

I would like to know why the reproducer -- if that is what it is -- is as long as a cylinder record.

mjbarnes wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:09 pm I would like to know why the reproducer -- if that is what it is -- is as long as a cylinder record.

U.S. Phonograph Company had an interesting system for playing both 2 & 4 minute cylinders on one machine. That round part infront of the assembly let's you choose between one of two reproducers making contact with the record, one having the 2 minute stylus, and one having the 4 minute stylus

mrvic2 wrote: Tue Feb 18, 2025 12:50 am

mjbarnes wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 11:09 pm I would like to know why the reproducer -- if that is what it is -- is as long as a cylinder record.

U.S. Phonograph Company had an interesting system for playing both 2 & 4 minute cylinders on one machine. That round part in front of the assembly let's you choose between one of two reproducers making contact with the record, one having the 2 minute stylus, and one having the 4 minute stylus

... and they are an absolute nightmare in pot metal.