The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My wife has quite an eye. A couple of months after finding a Graphophone Type N for $55, she found this Edison Standard New Case Type A for $50. As with the Graphophone, this Edison cleaned up nicely after I removed decades of grime, cleaned the mechanism, and relubricated everything.

It was sold as non-functional, but it had simply been gummed up with old oil, dust and related crud. Now, it runs like a charm, and the Model C reproducer sounds great. The machine lacks a lid, and the horn is a reproduction, but the nickel plating and bedplate are in nice shape. The banner decal is presentable, if not perfect, and about 80% of the pinstriping is still present.

I have a question about the age. The last patent date is 1898, and it has the lift lever, which (according to some online resources) would date it to no later than 1903. Yet if I triangulate from some other examples, the serial number--S139143--would date it to 1904. I don't know why these small distinctions matter to me.

There's no longer any need to sleuth out pre-May 1908 sales dates for Edison Phonographs. All dates for Edison Gems, Standards, Homes, Spring Motor/Triumphs, and Concerts are available in articles that have appeared in the APS magazine over the past few years. A detailed, illustrated article on the Edison Standard appeared in the December 2023 issue.

Edison Standard #139143 left the factory in March 1904.

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

George P.

Thank you! I've also reviewed a spreadsheet of existing Edison standard phonographs showing serial numbers and physical characteristics. It suggests that characteristics like the lift lever (vs. button lift) are not reliable indicators of age. The lift levers appear off and on after 1903, perhaps because components were replaced in later decades, or possibly because machines were being assembled with parts ready to hand.