Odd-ball Model A ‘Home’ Phonograph

[JohnM]

I bought this ‘suitcase’ Home Phonograph from a gentleman in Phoenix yesterday whose great-grandfather was the original owner and installed a door in the front of the case. Seller told me that the crank was missing, but I suspected that it might be inside the case, which in fact it was. The crank has a hole in the side in-line with the part that engaged the winding shaft.
The most unusual thing is that there’s a rectangular cut-out in the bedplate under the mandrel that appears to be factory. Is this the bedplate from a ‘skeletal’ Home? The upper casting has no hole.

[JerryVan]

Cool!

I would suspect that the cutout in the plate was to allow swarf to drop through while shaving a cylinder. The trap door might then be used to place a swarf tray inside, to catch the shavings. Just a guess.

[phonogfp]

I agree with Jerry. A hole to admit swarf and a door to remove it makes perfect sense. It's not a particularly early Home, and the "skeletal" models had solid bed plates.

George P.

[TinfoilPhono]

I would add that while the hole in the bedplate was very cleanly cut, it's surely not factory. I must assume that the original owner was really into making records, to the point that he had the bedplate cut out for the swarf (wax shavings) to fall through, and made a door for easy access to empty it out. Pretty clever adaptation -- I like it a lot.

[JohnM]

Thank you everyone. The swarf explanation makes the most sense I suppose. George, would you mind telling me when this Home was shipped?

[phonogfp]

John, surely you’re an APS member! An article on all models of the Edison Home (A-F with a dating chart) appeared in the June 2024 issue of the APS magazine. Yours left the factory in March 1900.

[JohnM]

Thank you for the shipping date.
No, I’m not a member.