Unusual Weekend Find

[phonogfp]

I don't usually make postings like this, but yesterday's experience was, for me, unusual in a couple of respects.

First, the machine itself is a rarity: a 1901 Zonophone Type D. The finger-joined corners are unique in my experience. Has anyone else run across finger-joints like these in an early A-D series Zonophone?

Secondly, the machine is complete - right down to the original leather elbow. This is highly unusual for Zonophones!

Finally, the machine is, as you can see, filthy. Untouched for decades. I'm used to finding more common machines in this state, but not items of this caliber. I expect this will be the last time I find something like this in untouched condition. Now I can die happy...

So the moral is: Yes - stuff keeps turning up (and not on eBay)! Keep looking!

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has seen another finger-joined Zonophone cabinet from the early series. Thanks - -

George P.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Congratulations, George. And the bonus is that it hasn't been mucked with. I will say that the damndest things do still turn up in the wild just at the moment one has gone on about " them days bein' over! "
Jim

[gramophone78]

Congrats George. What a neat little machine. I wish I knew more about Zono's. I too agree, there is a lot still hiding out that is NOT on Ebay.

[alang]

Congratulations George, what a nice machine. Still hoping for such a find...
Andreas

[TinfoilPhono]

Wow! What a great find. Amazing how many really wonderful things are still coming out of the woodwork.

[Brad]

Very cool George. Did this turn up at auction or estate sale?

What are your plans for it? If I were so lucky, I think I would leave it just as is and display it. Great find!

[Andersun]

Wow, very nice and original! More pics please....

[phonogfp]

Thanks, guys - - it really does help keep hope alive, doesn't it? As Rene says, there has been a lot of stuff coming out of the woodwork lately. Maybe it's a silver lining to a poor economy - people cleaning out their attics and barns?

As an example, an antique dealer down the street called me into his shop today as I was walking by. Someone had brought in a nice Edison Standard D (with a swollen bearing, of course), missing its crank, but with both C and H reproducers. The dealer said a fellow from a town 45 miles away brought it in yesterday. The motor runs, and the metal is unusually nice. The dealer wanted less than $100 for it. If that's a sign of the times, I feel bad for the guy who brought it in... This isn't the first time this summer that this dealer has offered me a decent phonograph for surprisingly little. If you haven't made yourself and your interests known to local dealers, I suggest you do...

As for my plans for the Zonophone, I toyed with the idea of leaving it as is, but ultimately, it's just too dirty. It's dirtier than it looks in the photo, and that brown substance that dripped on the top of the horn is pretty detracting. I'll have to clean this up, but all that means is gentle but thorough cleaning, oiling, and polishing. I won't replace the turntable felt, but I'll clean it. When it's finished, it will still look like it was in an attic for decades, but in a cardboard box instead of out in the open!

George P.

[phonogfp]

Wow, very nice and original! More pics please....

Well Steve, seeing as it's you...!

George P.

[FloridaClay]

George,

What a nice find! Congratulations.

It is the kind of thing that keeps me hopefully looking on Craigslist and such. Just last weekend there was a garage sale ad that included the word "Victrola" in the what's for sale list, with no other information about it. I went to have a look see and there was a nice unmolested mahogany VV-XVI at a more than fair price.

You just never know.

Clay