The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was reading an older thread from 2009 about the Sears fancy base for the Columbia Q Graphophone and how George P mentioned he saw it listed in a 1904 Sears catalog, but unsure of 1903.

I have a unique version of the Columbia Q, mounted to an original Sears fancy base. I dubbed it the "Transitional Q" because the phonograph itself is the 1st version Q with the nickel-plated base and the motor of the 2nd version Q. What also makes this phonograph interesting is it has its own serial number block in the 659000-660000s. If you look in Howard Hazelcorn's Guide to Columbia Cylinder Phonoagraphs book, you will note the "Transitiional Q" model or serial numbers block do not exist. Currently, I have found about 10 of these Qs and two of them were found on original Sears bases.

I believe these "Transisitional Qs" were sold as a way for Columbia to dispose of obsolete nickel-plated bases through Sears and by adapting the fancy base, it was also attractive to buyers. I wonder if this Transitional Q was sold in 1903 because of the left-over stock of nickel-plated bases. The question would depend on when Columbia had the new 2nd model Q motors ready for production.

The link is a photo of this Transitional Q. I would also be curious to know if anyone else has one of these models and what the serial number is.

Any feedback would be helpful. Thank you.

Scott
http://webpages.charter.net/phonographs ... tional.jpg

Does anyone make reproductions of these beautiful Sears bases? I would love to buy one, even a real one if the price is right. Brian Keith

Paul Baker made a run of them close to 20 years ago. I believe they were $300. They still turn up for about that price.

Actually, it was Aaron Cramer, not Paul Baker. I bought one from him at the time, but sold it a few years ago. They were quite nicely done, though they did not have the sharpness of detail of originals. And if I remember correctly, they were brass rather than iron.