The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This EBay seller always has odd-ball brand phonographs for sale - BUT this Silvertone table-top model looks like the cabinet is home-made, even though it looks great. Am I wrong? His EBay name (ID) is "Woodguy". Hummmm....... Woodguy tells me this guy knows his wood!!!

I'd have to agree. I haven't seen the listing, how is it advertised? the case definitely looks like a more or less "modern" assembly, and I've never seen a silvertone machine before with that type of brake, nor with a carved horn opening like that that's cut directly into the case rather than a removeable grill.

Here is the listing - I bought a machine from this seller before but this unit looks home-made BUT well made!! Just look closely at the case, especially the bottom and sides.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/250882964248?ss ... 1423.l2649

I'm not saying that a good woodworker couldn't make a cabinet to house a mechanism but I think it's original. I've seen very basic and inexpensive machines that are very similar to this. I vote that it's correct, the parts and cabinet are original and it's an interesting little machine. Jerry Blais

I am almost sure it is real Check out this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=405EIwHO ... re=related

(Not My Video)--Also want to say that 50's Decca sounds terrible!

Looking at the pictures in this thread I am inclined to say it is made up. I would expect a deeper tone to the white oak that only comes from age. Also, even though the top is made of two pieces glued together, I would have expected that there would have been a better attempt to match the color of the two pieces. The top looks to be made from from what was on hand when it was made.

However, looking at the pictures in the ebay listing, the last picture showing the bottom, there definitely is evidence of age oxidation on the inside.

My take is that the base cabinet is real, the top was added, the base was sanded and refinished to attempt to match finish with the top.

If the top was indeed original, then the exterior has been completely refinished.

In any case, I would expect a little more "fit and finish" in the top in the way of a routed profile around the edges.

I guess we would need to find a sales flyer or advertisement showing this model to confirm it is original.

Trash-o-phone! Not a single cut-out matches another on the face of the thing. Rank amateur junk, with all those stupid drill holes on the front. And this "wood guy" can't even be bothered to provide a fake crank? Bah, humbug !

It's a new case but generally patterned after the real thing- that style of Silvertone was very very basic. I'm looking at a picture of the Silvertone Jr. in the 1927 catalog and the differences are: the top board has a molded edge, the case is made with panels and corner posts and sits on a slightly splayed base similar to a Victor IX. The cut out grille is much simpler and the picture shows a tab brake. Cheaper Silvertone machines used plain straight cut solid oak.

On the other hand this illustrates what I said in the Off Brand thread- Silvertone machines of this vintage use a straight brass tone arm. This is a later one because it doesn't have the fitting to convert for vertical cut records.

While no way for me to know for sure I vote on the side of those who say its a new cabinet. While silvertone may have made some simply machines, ( I will have to research that), this just has too many tell tail signs of being new construction. Plus even though sears may have made simple machines, this one just doesn't have the finishing touches that would be standard for even plain machines in the 20s.

Larry

Here's a similar machine- the grille and arm don't match the one in the 1926 catalog exactly, but I expect Sears shopped these small machines out to a number of subcontractors so variations are to be expected. The more I look at it though I feel that the machine in question is a mixture of parts- a Frankenphone, though a decent quality one.