Page 1 of 2
Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2026 6:42 am
by Aristophane
Hello everyone,
I bought an Edison Spring Motor a while ago.
I'm happy to have found this forum and read your comments. You all seem to be extremely knowledgeable about Edison.
For my part, if I can help you with European phonographs, particularly French ones, I will be happy to assist you to the best of my knowledge.
Tonight or tomorrow, I will post some photos of my find. I hope you can tell me more about its “date of birth.”
And for those who might be interested in French phonographs and/or cylinders, I hope I will also be able to provide you with information.
Greetings from France.
Aristophane
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:04 pm
by Aristophane
Some pictures !
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:39 pm
by JerryVan
Very nice! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:58 pm
by phonogfp
A very nice example of an earlier Edison Spring Motor!
It's difficult to date these as specifically as the Gems, Standards, and Homes, but yours can be dated with confidence to 1897; probably the latter half. Your machine's motor should have spherical governor weights and spoked gears - signs of the U.S. Phonograph Company motor.
Thanks for posting!
George P.
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:24 pm
by Phono-Phan
Very Nice!!!! Congrats.
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:37 pm
by Andersun
That's a beauty! Has an Emerson clip on it too. What's all in the drawer? I see a screw driver....
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:40 pm
by FellowCollector
This is a very nice example of the Edison Spring Motor. With the serial number 24213 I might have expected Class M lugs on the upper works as I've seen Class M lugs on the upper works of Edison Spring Motors with slightly higher serial numbers. The Emerson clip is a nice touch on this one. Interesting to note that the upper casting has later "thin" tufts of grass at the corners whereas the bed plate has the expected "fat" tufts of grass at the corners for many brass mandrel Spring Motors. This seems a bit odd and might suggest some inventory swapping at the factory presuming this has not been modified after factory release. Just some gentle speculation here on my part and happy to hear what others have to say. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Doug
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 6:42 am
by Aristophane
phonogfp wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 2:58 pm
A very nice example of an earlier Edison Spring Motor!
It's difficult to date these as specifically as the Gems, Standards, and Homes, but yours can be dated with confidence to 1897; probably the latter half. Your machine's motor should have spherical governor weights and spoked gears - signs of the U.S. Phonograph Company motor.
Thanks for posting!
George P.
Thanks. I will take some pictures of the motor this weekend and post them.
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 6:44 am
by Aristophane
Andersun wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:37 pm
That's a beauty! Has an Emerson clip on it too. What's all in the drawer? I see a screw driver....
Thanks, not sure what is an Emerson clip? There are 3 screw driver in the drawer. Not sure about the paper because it's a bit worn. I will look at it and let you know
Re: Edison Spring Motor
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2026 6:54 am
by Aristophane
FellowCollector wrote: Wed Feb 04, 2026 4:40 pm
This is a very nice example of the Edison Spring Motor. With the serial number 24213 I might have expected Class M lugs on the upper works as I've seen Class M lugs on the upper works of Edison Spring Motors with slightly higher serial numbers. The Emerson clip is a nice touch on this one. Interesting to note that the upper casting has later "thin" tufts of grass at the corners whereas the bed plate has the expected "fat" tufts of grass at the corners for many brass mandrel Spring Motors. This seems a bit odd and might suggest some inventory swapping at the factory presuming this has not been modified after factory release. Just some gentle speculation here on my part and happy to hear what others have to say. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Doug
Thank you for this detailed analysis! I bought it from the great-grandson of a gentleman who had apparently had it in his garage in the south of France for quite some time. The veneer on the hood is a little damaged here and there, which is a shame, but otherwise it's in good shape considering its age. In France (and perhaps in the United States), sewing machines had this type of cover.