Odd Fireside or ??

[briankeith]

I have two really clean Edison Firesides, and one needing a complete restoration. I just noticed that one of the clean models has a speed control (which works) mounted on the left-front corner in between the gold numbers 2 and 4. The other two do not have this at all. I took the machine semi apart and the hole for the speed knob looks factory installed, not like someone just drilled a hole into the top bedplate to add a speed control. I wonder if this was a factory installed option or a left over "standard" motor mounted inside a Fireside case? I will try to attach a close-up shot of what I am talking about later. Interesting that I never noticed this before....

[martinola]

That is odd. By any chance, was this on a machine that has a cygnet horn crane bracket? I've seen a few late Standards and Homes with this feature and they all seem to be Cygnet-equipped.

-Martin

[briankeith]

Yes Martin, actually two of my three Firesides are equipped with original Edison Cygnet brackets and horns, but only one has a speed control. See the two attached photos of the machine with the speed control:

[Jerry B.]

Interesting... was the Fireside ever used as a ICS machine? I remember seeing an ICS Amberola 30. It had a reducer in the carriage and a modified H reproducer. I should have bought it! Jerry

[martinola]

Interesting. The Standards and Homes that I've seen like that, all seem to lack the ICS repeater equipment. As far as I've heard, Firesides weren't ICS machines, but I keep getting surprised by variations in Edison machines, so who knows? Thanks for sharing!

-Martin

[briankeith]

This Fireside was equipped with an "H" reproducer, also this machine has a very faint painted on blue line that follows the inside of the gold pin-stripping perfectly - you can still see it if you look closely. The speed control works perfectly but is mounted in a very odd place, between the painted on 2 and 4 minute gold numbers on the left front corner. My other Fireside parts machine has a very small indention in the exact same place where a hole could have been drilled if the factory so desired. Not sure? I have NEVER seen another Fireside with a speed control, has anyone else?

[phonohound]

I have a rather strange Fireside as well. Mine also has the speed control above the bedplate, like yours. However, mine is in a custom-made mahogany cabinet and has 4-springs and a repeater. I apologize for not posting a picture yet, but I will a bit later.

I believe it was a special order to have the speed control placed on top, depending on the purpose of the phonograph. I feel my Fireside was possibly used in a store for advertising and it was suggested the machine could've been used in the home to repeat records for dancing, so the speed control would have come in handy, especially if homemade recordings were used.

[Andersun]

BrianKeith, was this machine recently on Ebay? I saw one like this a couple of weeks ago on Ebay but I cannot find it in completed listings. I have seen another Fireside with a speed control many years ago (over 10). I thought it was either done by a skilled machinist owner or a jobber. It's a great feature to have so you can change speed on the fly without messing with the cygnet horn!

Nice machine.....

Found it... Looks like both had a line or in your case, lines etched onto the knob.......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDISON-FIRESIDE ... 519be89f96

[phonohound]

Here are the photos of the 4-spring Fireside as I mentioned earlier. You will note the speed control is in the same position as yours.

[Jerry B.]

Thanks Phonohound, that's a really cool Fireside. I have never heard of such a machine. Could you show a photo of the motor? Thanks, Jerry Blais