Thanks to everyone for their responses. I was tempted to make an offer based on parts but maybe not. He might put it on ebay. I offered advice on what he had and some of what you folks said I had already passed along. I already have a B machine that is 2 minute only like this one. However, I was unsure about the modifications done to it. Regarding your comments on the bedplate I don't believe it was repainted. This picture isn't very clear. I have several other pictures I didn't post and one of them was a straight down shot of the bedplate and you can see the correct pinstriping and it's probably 50-60% or so. Regarding serial numbers. I have another shot that shows the first two numbers to be 52 so it would appear to be the wrong decal and, as everyone has noted, refinished. The B that I own with the banner decal is 330092. Thanks again for the advice.
Glenn ----- Original Message ---- From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 7:54:46 PM Subject: [Phono-L] Re: Edison Standard B question There is no doubt the case was refinished. Had the machine been equipped with a 2&4 minute gear then I would have said the large diameter reproducer carriage could have been contemporaneous to the period. But, with no speed change gearing this must have been done when the machine was "restored!" It also appears that the topworks and bedplate were painted over as they look nice but have no gold pinstripe. I would place my bet that the horn was a reproduction as well as the decal on the golden oak finish, which is an incorrect finish. Always get a serial number for a machine you wish to purchase. It can tell you a great deal. If the topworks were a Model B on a Model A motor with no springs for suspension or if the decal were wrong for the machine, etc., the serial would tell. e.g. The banner transfer gave way to the simple Edison script around machine #344000. Frankenmutt Edisons are so easy to put together that one has to be careful that the "as found from grandson of original owner" will not give you a Gem D with a Diamond B reproducer in a large diameter horizontal carriage. Yes, it was a put together arrangement that would not play a 4 minute record all the way through because of the pressure applied by the B stylus. Since it was so "ultra-rare" it went high on eBay to a newbie who swallowed the bait, hook, line, and sinker. Estimated value on a "restored" put-together machine is really the sum of the valuable parts and not as a whole machine. eBay prices have been ranging from just over $300 to $500 for more original machines. So, IMHO the phonograph is worth $200, the broken C reproducer $85, and the all brass witches hat horn repro $35. Grand total value of $320 on a good day. Best Wishes to Everyone, Al **************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. Go to AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565) _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org From [email protected] Wed Feb 13 20:06:15 2008 From: [email protected] (Douglas Houston) Date: Wed Feb 13 20:15:32 2008 Subject: [Phono-L] open question Message-ID: <[email protected]> After WW II, the record companies did go to pressing discs with plastics, and I believe that Vinyl was the biggest player. Light weight pickups were widely in use, and played the discs very well. But, a heavy pickup, such as early horseshoe magnetics, or even acoustic sound boxes will make a mess of them. > [Original Message] > From: Thatcher Graham <[email protected]> > To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> > Date: 2/13/2008 10:28:15 PM > Subject: [Phono-L] open question > > > I have a number of 78s that are not shellac or at least do not appear to > be. In many cases (depending on brand) their labels indicate they are > made of Metrolite I've read that Mercury used "Merco Plastic" MGM used > Mercolite and Savoy used Sav-o-Flex. > > Do these have the same resilience as my shellac 78s? I am concerned > that normal play will wear them more quickly. If they are made of a a > PVC/ENR blend that is probably the case. > > -- Thatcher > > > > > Metrolite, Merco Plastic, and Sav-o-flex! > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Phono-L mailing list > > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
