The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

As I seem to recall (not from personal knowledge, of course!), prior to Brunswick getting into the phonograph business, they used to make the cabinets for Edison.

I have been unable to locate over the past couple of years a lock and escutcheon set to replace the missing one in my EARLY (as in pre-model number) upright Brunswick.

Does anyone have any clue as to whether the lock hardware from an Edison might also fit a Brunswick? Every time I look at my Brunsy, I cannot help feeling like it is wearing a tux, but missing the bowtie.

Edison lock hardware seems to be a lot more prevalent, and while it may seem anathema to some to even suggest such a thing, the A250 lock escutcheon (at least) does appear to be the same from my untrained eye. Further, the A250 Edison disc shared the same key as the Brunswick.

Anyone with more working knowledge of lock hardware have any insight as to compatibility/interchangeability?

Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

With all of the collective knowledge, experience, and bins/boxes of salvaged parts of this community, (I know I cannot possibly be the only one who has dusty bins of parts squirreled away, often to the dismay of our spouses/significant others... ), surely I am not the first to question this, am I?

I don't have an answer, but you could PM "Roaring 20s" who is parting out ab Edison W-250 (and I think his price for all the lock stuff is a whopping $15!), he could probably at least measure it for you which would certainly give you an idea as to whether or not it would work for you!

The thread is here:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=9&t=9173

Hope this helps!
Sean

OrthoSean wrote:I don't have an answer, but you could PM "Roaring 20s" who is parting out ab Edison W-250 (and I think his price for all the lock stuff is a whopping $15!), he could probably at least measure it for you which would certainly give you an idea as to whether or not it would work for you!

The thread is here:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=9&t=9173

Hope this helps!
Sean

Actually, I did just that yesterday, and he sent me the dimensions which I received this morning. I compared it with the openings on my Brunswick, and it "looks" like it might work!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll post my findings once I receive the lock set and see how it all potentially fits together.

One other item of note... last night I noodled through pages upon pages of skeleton (lever lock) keys on Ebay, because I know that often people who sell keys there have no idea what the keys are used for. I found a Brunswick key with the same tooth cut that the Edison key shared for a buy it now of five bucks, plus shipping, (and is identical to the tooth cut in the broken key that Roaring 20s is including). With a bit of good luck, I may get it to all come together!

Thanks for the response, Sean!

Tink, I think you are correct. I believe that Brunswick got in the business as a result of a large quantity of cabinets that were rejected by Edison. Years ago, maybe twenty five, I saw a cabinet that I recognized as Edison but it did not have any indication of ever having a crank hole. The inside was repurposed as a liquor cabinet. Of course the crank hole could have been expertly disguised but I don't think this was the case. Your thread has brought up memories of a very interesting opportunity that I missed as a younger collector. I made a mistake. Jerry

Jerry B. wrote:Tink, I think you are correct. I believe that Brunswick got in the business as a result of a large quantity of cabinets that were rejected by Edison. Years ago, maybe twenty five, I saw a cabinet that I recognized as Edison but it did not have any indication of ever having a crank hole. The inside was repurposed as a liquor cabinet. Of course the crank hole could have been expertly disguised but I don't think this was the case. Your thread has brought up memories of a very interesting opportunity that I missed as a younger collector. I made a mistake. Jerry

Without having to go through dozens of bookmarked websites, scads of emails, and pages of written documentation to locate the source, I do recall reading somewhere that Brunswick first made phono cabinets for others and realized they were missing out on a potential market. It may have been in correspondence email with R. Wakeman I conducted when researching info on my unnumbered Brunswick, or it may have been on the Gracyk website (or both/neither).

If I had the time, ability, and resources to do so, I would love to research and write a book on Brunswick phonograph history... not for any particular hopes of financial gain, but strictly for the purpose of having some written history (and how to) in print. The challenge, however, is obtaining anything other than empirical knowledge as the non-US firm who bought out the rights to the Brunswick name about twenty years ago destroyed all production records/information believing nobody would be interested in ancient history (according to Mr. Wakeman). What a tragedy to lose such history.

Was the missed opportunity to which you refer the one to purchase that particular repurposed cabinet, or did you have some other great idea/opportunity? (Sorry, I don't mean to be obtuse...)

The cabinet I saw was in an antique shop. I was so focussed on working machines that I missed out on a opportunity at something truly unique. It pays to avoid tunnel vision. Jerry

I don't know if this will help, but we showed this interesting Brunswick in Discovering Antique Phonographs. The lock certainly looks like the Eagle typically supplied with Edison cabinets.

This machine is about 40 minutes from me. If you'd like, I can stop by the next time I'm in that neighborhood, examine it, and report back.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:I don't know if this will help, but we showed this interesting Brunswick in Discovering Antique Phonographs. The lock certainly looks like the Eagle typically supplied with Edison cabinets.

This machine is about 40 minutes from me. If you'd like, I can stop by the next time I'm in that neighborhood, examine it, and report back.

George P.

Thank you, George, for the kind offer to check. This cabinet is very similar to my own... I would be very interested to know what you find out.

Tinkerbell wrote:

Jerry B. wrote:Tink, I think you are correct. I believe that Brunswick got in the business as a result of a large quantity of cabinets that were rejected by Edison. Years ago, maybe twenty five, I saw a cabinet that I recognized as Edison but it did not have any indication of ever having a crank hole. The inside was repurposed as a liquor cabinet. Of course the crank hole could have been expertly disguised but I don't think this was the case. Your thread has brought up memories of a very interesting opportunity that I missed as a younger collector. I made a mistake. Jerry

Without having to go through dozens of bookmarked websites, scads of emails, and pages of written documentation to locate the source, I do recall reading somewhere that Brunswick first made phono cabinets for others and realized they were missing out on a potential market. It may have been in correspondence email with R. Wakeman I conducted when researching info on my unnumbered Brunswick, or it may have been on the Gracyk website (or both/neither).

If I had the time, ability, and resources to do so, I would love to research and write a book on Brunswick phonograph history... not for any particular hopes of financial gain, but strictly for the purpose of having some written history (and how to) in print. The challenge, however, is obtaining anything other than empirical knowledge as the non-US firm who bought out the rights to the Brunswick name about twenty years ago destroyed all production records/information believing nobody would be interested in ancient history (according to Mr. Wakeman). What a tragedy to lose such history.

Was the missed opportunity to which you refer the one to purchase that particular repurposed cabinet, or did you have some other great idea/opportunity? (Sorry, I don't mean to be obtuse...)

Tinkerbell
I emailed Mr. Wakeman recently and he told me he has written a book on Brunswick machines but has been unable to find a publisher thus far. I know I would be interested in a copy if he should get it published. Jan