Hi Jim & welcome.
You can actually view & print out the instruction manual from the link below. It's not specifically for the Style F, but was supplied as generic instructions for a variety of models.
http://www.nipperhead.com/old/aeolian.htm
Normal shellac 78rpm are played with a steel needle, but you mentioned you have some Edison records as well. If these are the very thick "Diamond Disc" records, they can only be played with a diamond tipped needle, as a steel needle will destroy the record/recording as soon as the needle is lowered. These Edisons were recorded vertically (as opposed to laterally like
most 78 shellac records), and the reproducer needs to be turned as described on page 8 & 9 of the instruction manual, to play them.
Edison also made laterally recorded shellac records just before the company closed, and these
can be played with a steel needle, but they are quite hard to come by & are very sort after by collectors, so you'd be wise not to play these too often with steel anyway.
I for one would be very interested to see potos of your machine. Aeolian made a wide variety of models over the years, and they didn't always include a model number on the machine, so it's always good to see photos of an identified model for future reference.
Photos can also sometimes help in dating a machine, as often different features were introduced to a model as time progressed, but without a change in the actual model designation. Many companies patented certain design features too, so this can be helpful in determining the earliest year a particular machine was produced.
A picture can sometimes literally speak a thousand words
Aeolian Vocalion machines were generally very well made & finished, and many models used a good quality Thorens motor that was based on the design of Garrard of UK's No.1A motor. When properly lubricated & adjusted, they are more than adequate for regular use & very reliable.
The only real problem with most of these AV's was the tonearm was made from potmetal, which has become quite fragile over time, but when in good condition, you only need to take care not to force the arm or drop it heavily, and it should see service for many years to come.
You mention yours has been repaired in the past, & that's not at all unusual. Unfortunately, regular solder doesn't do well for potmetal repairs. Many fellows here recommend JB Weld for the purpose, which I believe is an epoxy type product that is strong enough for most potmetal repairs & dries to resemble metal & can be painted.
Another alternative would be to replace the tonearm entirely, but "spare" AV tonearms in good condition are very few, and on the rare occasions they do turn up, they normally sell for a premium because so many people are wanting a replacement.
There are also special welding rods available for potmetal, but I've never known of anyone who's used them, and I'm guessing they might be unsuitable for many finer/detailed applications in phonograph repairs anyway.
Most potmetal never had specific ingredience in accurate amounts when made as well, so metal quality varied greatly from one company to another, and even varied from within the same manufacturer, so these rods most likely have varying results too, depending on the specific concoction used at any given time.
With all that said, cabinet models of fairly plain & standard design that were made by the major companies competitors (like AV) dont generally spark much interest with a lot of collectors, so as a result, they tend to be less valuable than an equivelent sized & designed model made by Victor or Columbia, and the damaged tonearm will reduce it's value even more.
Being an oak model though, it might generate a little more interest than you will get for a mahogany version (in USA anyway).
Perhaps as you're a collector of antiques anyway, you may be better off to read through the instructions and play a disc or two every couple days over the next few weeks. Period music played in a period setting can really add a lot of atmosphere to a room/home, and you might find yourself starting to enjoy the entertainment your machine can provide, given the chance.
Even if the sound quality is a little off, it can usually be improved greatly with an easy & inexpensive overhaul of the reproducer.
If the machine has sat in the corner unused for the last 18 yrs, I'd highly recommend putting it to some gentle use for a couple weeks before selling it off. These machines can really grow on you when they are used as intended, & you never know...you might just become as obsessed with them as we all are here
