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Amberola DX 2&4 minute with Model-O reproducer

So this is what you were talking about doing to the DX at the Wayne show?? So nice to have that option as a set up.

Brad Abell

Miniature Amberola 1-A

I assume that mechanism carries a Model A Fireside data plate.

George P.

I don’t think it needs to. Pretty sure you can just switch in the gearing from a 2/4 fireside or standard. I’ve been meaning to give that a try.

But oops, this has the 2-4 legend painted on. Never mind, unless it’s a (newer) decal.

It has the DX bedplate

So I guess whoever changed the gearing added the wording. I’ll do the same when I retrofit my DX.

With a little bit of luck, the weenie who acquires it from a dusty junk pile in 50 years will inform the collectors’ neural thought hive (or whatever replaced this forum by then) that it’s a rare factory-original early model. Holographic George Frow and holographic Tim Fabrizio will argue bitterly, and at great length, and reach no conclusions.

I have had an Amberola 8 or a DX for years that had the 2/4 minute gearing installed. It was just basically the Fireside topworks configured like a Model B, that was pure 4 min. You could easily add the 2/4 gearing to it, just as to the similar desktop model. My machine was found in the wild with a Model O reproducer. A dealer, back in the day, may have added the blocked out gearing and replaced the Diamond reproducer with an O, to allow a customer, who still had 2 minute cylinders and wax amberols to still play them on a new machine. Just a theory!

By the way, I don’t have the O reproducer that came with it,, and tragically, neither does my friend! He really wanted the O reproducer and wanted to sell me the machine. As soon as he picked up the machine, he took off the O reproducer and put it in a bag he had in his car—a leftover McDonald’s bag. He never took the machine out of the car, until I had it. He cleaned out his car, and through out the trash, including the McDonald’s bag with the O reproducer! He is still sick about that!!

I have had an Amberola 8 or a DX for years that had the 2/4 minute gearing installed. It was just basically the Fireside topworks configured like a Model B, that was pure 4 min. You could easily add the 2/4 gearing to it, just as to the similar desktop model. My machine was found in the wild with a Model O reproducer. A dealer, back in the day, may have added the blocked out gearing and replaced the Diamond reproducer with an O, to allow a customer, who still had 2 minute cylinders and wax amberols to still play them on a new machine. Just a theory!

By the way, I don’t have the O reproducer that came with it,, and tragically, neither does my friend! He really wanted the O reproducer and wanted to sell me the machine. As soon as he picked up the machine, he took off the O reproducer and put it in a bag he had in his car—a leftover McDonald’s bag. He never took the machine out of the car, until I had it. He cleaned out his car, and through out the trash, including the McDonald’s bag with the O reproducer! He is still sick about that!!

Ooh, thanks for the reminder of that excellent story.

On May 17 I might just bring an O to our meetup. Wrapped in a filet-o-fish wrapper in a Mickey-D bag.