FOR SALE: QUEEN BUSY BEE CYLINDER PHONOGRAPH
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2025 10:04 pm
Offering what is often considered a scarce Busy Bee QUEEN BEE cylinder phonograph. Open works key-wind style Busy Bee (like Columbia Qs) are most often seen, but the Queen Bee is seldom seen. How many have you seen? This one falls within the rare category because it has a rear mount assembly with a two-tone faux oak horn. There is a new belt and all fine adjustments have been made and lubrication oil applied.
Busy Bee were Columbia client machines marketed by the O'Neill & James Company of Chicago. This was apparently customized years ago since Busy Bee cylinders are expensive, breakable and hard-to-find. The cylinder mandrel is the same as a BK so you can play regular Edison or Columbia 2-min cylinder records. I have included a Busy Bee mandrel that would need to be modified to work in place of the BK mandrel to accommodate the larger diameter Busy Bee cylinders. (Tip: You could hollow it out as a slip over mandrel right up to the belt slot without hurting anything - - I leave that up to the new owner).
This example is in excellent restored condition with original case finish and decal with a protective clear coat. The bedplate finish is good except for some pitting. The machine's nickel plating on all of the parts is in good shape with some plating loss on the mandrel. The only exception is the crank finish (which is mostly gone). All gears are sharp showing minimal wear. Springs are good. The original 2-minute reproducer has a new rubber gasket and still has the original stepped diaphragm and a stylus which blasts a bit due to what may be a slight flat spot. This stylus should be turned for better clarity. The machine runs well, and the reproducer has good volume. You may not see another like this.
Price: $1150 + shipping First posted sold
Busy Bee were Columbia client machines marketed by the O'Neill & James Company of Chicago. This was apparently customized years ago since Busy Bee cylinders are expensive, breakable and hard-to-find. The cylinder mandrel is the same as a BK so you can play regular Edison or Columbia 2-min cylinder records. I have included a Busy Bee mandrel that would need to be modified to work in place of the BK mandrel to accommodate the larger diameter Busy Bee cylinders. (Tip: You could hollow it out as a slip over mandrel right up to the belt slot without hurting anything - - I leave that up to the new owner).
This example is in excellent restored condition with original case finish and decal with a protective clear coat. The bedplate finish is good except for some pitting. The machine's nickel plating on all of the parts is in good shape with some plating loss on the mandrel. The only exception is the crank finish (which is mostly gone). All gears are sharp showing minimal wear. Springs are good. The original 2-minute reproducer has a new rubber gasket and still has the original stepped diaphragm and a stylus which blasts a bit due to what may be a slight flat spot. This stylus should be turned for better clarity. The machine runs well, and the reproducer has good volume. You may not see another like this.
Price: $1150 + shipping First posted sold