Green topped Model H Reproducers

[Lenoirstreetguy]

One thing I've never seen discussed except in passing is the green dye used on some of the Edison Model H reproducers in order to prevent any confusion with the Model C. All the Model H's didn't have it, of course, but which ones did and which ones didn't? For example, my Model D Standard ..which is an early one..came with its original reproducer which was NOT green . Were the green topped ones supplied with the 4 minute conversion kits? Was this something the factory only used for a short time? George Frow's book is not enlightening on this topic and I have looked in the the Edison Phonograph Monthly reprints without finding anything relating to the green top.
Any ideas?

Jim

[recordo]

My machine with the 2-4 conversion has it, but I don't know if it's original to the machine.

[JohnM]

I suppose the green corresponded with the green wax Amberol box, much as the yellow recorder japanning corresponded with the yellow blank box. Not sure if the green H's only came with kits. It would make sense if they came with all 2/4- min Phonographs (with the obvious exceptions of Operas, Amberolas, and converted Concerts, etc) produced late-1908 to the advent of the Blue Amberol. Steve Medved may have some insight on this.

[WDC]

In fact, the color code purpose is obvious. Even if you don't wreck a 2-m wax instantly, it will cause excessive wear. They are not common but do appear if one looks after them. I once had four of these but just kept the nicest one. The dye appears to be of the same nature as the red one used on the GEM horns. Both peel off easily.

I thought it was mentioned in the Frow book but quick look proved me wrong. But there is a green dye mentioned on the Edison 4-minute recorder similar to the Model H. Despite that, the one I have has a yellow dye - no idea why.

[rodpickett]

The green-tint Model H’s were supplied in each Edison 2/4 Conversion Outfit, along with the Ten Special Amberol Cylinders. The green tint, as others have suggested, was likely to remind the owner which reproducer was to be used with which cylinder.

Other machines, supplied as 4-minute machines, did not have a green-tint on the Model H reproducer.

You may use the link below to view a complete Conversion Outfit for the Home model, which includes the green-tint reproducer.

https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/4204650 ... o?h=690f17

[gramophoneshane]

I thought it was mentioned in the Frow book but quick look proved me wrong. But there is a green dye mentioned on the Edison 4-minute recorder similar to the Model H. Despite that, the one I have has a yellow dye - no idea why.

I tend to think Frow was wrong about 4 minute recorders being green too. Mine is also yellow, and I'm yet to see another that wasn't yellow too. It was once suggested to me, that my yellow recorder had faded, but I think that's nonsense becaused I've never seen a Model H that had "faded" to yellow.
This same person eventually produced a photo of a green recorder, but the colouring looked all patchy, and to me it appeared to have been a recent attempt to fake the green dye to prove his point.
I suppose it's posible the recorders were first issued in green & later changed to yellow to stop confusion between recorder & reproducer, but I still haven't seen a 4 minute recorder that looks original & wasn't yellow.

[rodpickett]

Here is a 4 minute recorder, with original green-tint, and inspected by Steve Medved


https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/4204650 ... r?h=468be2

[phonohound]

Hi;

I also have a complete Home Amberol conversion kit and my Model H was NOT painted green. I know this reproducer is original to the package as it is pristine. See photo of the kit.

http://webpages.charter.net/phonographs ... %20Kit.jpg

I believe there are always exceptions to any hard-fast rule.

Scott M.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Hi;

I also have a complete Home Amberol conversion kit and my Model H was NOT painted green. I know this reproducer is original to the package as it is pristine. See photo of the kit.

http://webpages.charter.net/phonographs ... %20Kit.jpg

I believe there are always exceptions to any hard-fast rule.

Scott M.

This is my point exactly. But I wonder if they did it for a certain period of time...say 1909-10...for example after they realized that the public was confusing the reproducers when playing Amberols. It's odd that the green tint isn't mentioned in the Edison Phonograph Monthly were they took great pains to outline every minute change in the equipment, especially in the era of the combination machines and cygnet horns where the variations of the accessories really did spin out of control.
Jim