Edison 4-minute Recording Head Carriage

[Phono-Phan]

I found this in a box of parts that came with an Edison Home. I am pretty sure it is a recording head carriage for 4-minute black wax records. There were a few of the 4 minute black wax recording blank records in the box also. I am not sure what model of Edison phonograph it would go to. It is black so I don't think it would be for an Opera. What does everyone think? It will be available at the Midwest Music Expo coming up in June in Schaumburg Illinois.
https://www.antiquephono.org/#/eventdetails/future/69

[52089]

I'm pretty sure this is a recording attachment for an Amberola 1A. I wouldn't call it hen's teeth rare, but it's certainly not commonly found. Neither are 4 minute blanks - can you post photos please?

[phonohound]

Ken

I have seen these in brown for the oak Opera and maroon for the mahogany Opera and related Amberola 1s. The color is hard to see but if you take a flash photo, the color pops. Mine is maroon.

If yours is truly black, maybe it is for the Edison School model, but this is speculation.

[phonogfp]

Ken,
Coincidentally, this recording attachment will be pictured (in an original labeled box) and described as part of my article in the June issue of the APS magazine. It was indeed meant for the Opera, School, and Amberola IA and IB.
George P.

[Phono-Phan]

Paul,
Thanks for the information. Do you think the carriages were color specific to the model of phonograph? Mine is definitely black. I look forward to seeing your article. There will also be an article on all the brown and black wax cylinders I recently acquired.
I will try to get some pictures of the black wax recording blanks tomorrow.

[phonogfp]

Paul,
Thanks for the information. Do you think the carriages were color specific to the model of phonograph? Mine is definitely black. I look forward to seeing your article. There will also be an article on all the brown and black wax cylinders I recently acquired.
I will try to get some pictures of the black wax recording blanks tomorrow.

I have an original box for one of these attachments, with the labels intact. There is no provision for indicating color. I have my doubts that such a utilitarian piece would have been originally color-matched by the factory - especially considering the various colors that would have been necessary to match a IA, IB, and Opera/Concert in their various cabinets.


George P.

[phonohound]

Hi George. What would explain the brown, maroon and black colors if not matched to the bedplate colors of the Operas? I have no evidence but just seems too coincidental with the 3 colors chosen for these attachments

Scott

[phonogfp]

Hi George. What would explain the brown, maroon and black colors if not matched to the bedplate colors of the Operas? I have no evidence but just seems too coincidental with the 3 colors chosen for these attachments

Scott

Scott,

I want to be clear that I don't pretend to know for sure. I can only apply whatever experience and common sense I can claim (which might be very little). The only three explanations that occur to me are these:

1) Perhaps Edison actually provided these attachments in brown, maroon, black, and gunmetal to match the finish of any Edison machine that might accommodate them. But it strikes me that the same end could have been accomplished by providing the attachment in Ozidized Bronze which would have matched any of the target machines. Why match the bedplates when the metal trim could have been matched with one finish? In light of the fact that the Recording Attachment would not typically be left in place, I would expect only one option to be available - like a Model T - black. And if multiple colors were available, I'd expect an indication on the box of of which color is inside, as we typically see on boxes for Edison Disc Reproducers. I'd also expect to see mention made of the color choices in original Edison literature.

2) Perhaps some original purchasers of these attachments had their dealer paint it to match. After all, the target machines were all high-end items and a dealer would probably be eager to please such customers.

3) Perhaps as these attachments were discovered by collectors in the 1940s/50s/60s/70s/80s/90s and later, they yearned for a matching color when in place on their Amberola/Opera/Concert. I felt the same yearning myself when I acquired my black example. It's a relatively simple matter to paint it to match.

I'd be grateful to learn more on this topic.

George P.

[phonohound]

Hi George

Thank you for your response. All valid points. It would be nice to find something in literature someday that might explain these questions. The colors are so subtle too. When I first found mine, I thought i was black, but after I took a photo, it showed up as maroon. I have seen a brown one too and again, hard to see unless you take a flash photo.

[phonospud]

Aaron Cramer hired me to make 30 replicas of these in the early 1990's. They still seem to turn up here and there, now with 35+ years of patina.