The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

is there a simple way to determine whether a 14-inch all brass cylinder horn on one of my edison homes is original or just an older, well-worn reproduction? it's the only all brass horn of this sort that I have, or have ever had, and I haven't really looked at all that many too closely in-person either.

Maybe you can upload some pictures of it?

That's a good question....

I stay away from any all brass horns that look like the reproduction brass/steel horns. The dimensions and construction of the repro brass horns look just like the repro brass/steel except of course the cone is of brass.

I look for the brass horns with the smooth seams and also ones that are dimentionally different than the repros.

The older repro horns have poor quality brass where you can see the spin marks on the bell. The orignals have a mirror finish when polished.

Other than that, is hard to determine the originality if the repro has a nice old patina on it.

Steve

If you are talking about a 14" black & brass Edison horn, an original will have a crimped small end and a raised seam between the brass bell and the black body of the horn. The better quality reproductions, like the Smith's, have a flush connection between the bell and body and the small end is crimped. The poor quality reproductions have a soldered small end and a flush connection between the bell and body. I hope this helps. Jerry Blais
*
I wrote the above response after a 500 mile final leg of my 6000 mile Union trip. It's obvious that the original question in the thread asked about all brass horns. My advise is good but it doesn't deal with the all brass horns. Sorry!
*
A more fully alert Jerry Blais