The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

If someone would have asked me a week ago if I could get excited over an Edison Standard, I would have scoffed at the suggestion. It's not that I don't respect the quality and durability of the Standard. They are a workhorse of a machine. It's just that hundreds of thousands of original phonograph buyers recognized the value and they sold by the trainloads. They are common. Then this little machine showed up at our OTAPS open house. I suspect it is as close to perfect as any Standard anywhere. Fellow collector and friend, Ron Bryan, bought it at a farm auction in Washington state. He said it was carefully packed in 1940's newspaper. The original 14" horn, four language cylinders, speaking tube, and recorder were all included and each item was carefully packed away. Many of us throw around the word "mint" or "minty" for something really nice. I use the term occasionally. This machine is different. The green "New Century" cabinet is really green. The black paint looks wet and the striping is flawless. The nickeling looks way too good. This is what a buyer must have seen when they bought a new Edison about 110 years ago. I'd say...it's mint!

ICS Standard Model A - Serial #48207
Reproducer #7379 ( big round weight - is this an early B reproducer?)
Recorder #6237

Jerry Blais

This truly is a beautiful Standard Jerry. Congratulations!
I've only seen one other that looked as good, and it was sold by Mario (the aussie collector) on ebay a couple years ago. His however did not have the speaking tube or recorder if I recall correctly.
What a great find. I must admit I'd be tempted to wrap it newspaper & put it away again to prevent it fading or getting dusty, but it's just too nice not to look at

One thing I do recall about Marios machine is that the inside of the cabinet & lid were both covered in the green dye used under the exterior finish. It almost looked like it had been painted with a thinned coat of green water colour paint.
Is your machine the same?

Congratulations! A great find.

Clay

Very nice find. I like the Recorder. You never know what you will find at these Estate sales or Auctions. I have one just like this. Mine is the Green oak as well

Jerry, just another "world class" machine in a "world class" collection. As you wrote....this is a REAL mint machine. The only thing missing is the original price sticker.... . I hope you retained the 1940's news paper to keep with it. I keep the 1963 paper that my Vic one was wrapped in.
Way to go Jerry.

Condition can elevate even a common machine to something special. You just don't see old mandrels look like that! Just beautiful - -

George P.

Jerry,

Wow, That is green and an excellent example of what such a machine was when new.

To be in that condition it had to have been stored inside with limited extremes in temperature and/or humidity.

I would imagine that it runs extremely quiet. I would be quite interesting to hear how a (nearly) new motor sounds.

Congrats

What a beautiful example, Jerry! Is the last patent May 31, 1898? I see you also have a model B in the background. Is that in a Mahogany case? (So much stuff to drool over!) Anyway, great find!
-Martin

Yes, there is a mahogany Standard in the background. To the left of the mahogany Standard is a cardboard simulated TV from the 50's. I think it was a dealer window display from a little mom & pop TV store. It's nice having a basement to display things you couldn't ordinarily have in a regular house. Jerry

Beautiful machine, Jerry! I love the green finish and the nickel plating is all stunning.