I believe that the only Amberolas that have three sets of numbers matching (mechanism number, cabinet ID plate, and cabinet numbers) are those whose cabinets were manufactured at the West Orange factory. There were at least 4 manufacturers of 1A cabinets, and even more for 1Bs. There are relatively few Amberolas that have all three sets of numbers matching. The cabinet numbers stamped into the wood were only for in-house use - - so that everything would fit together after the finish was applied. The Edison plant was the only place where cabinets and mechanism were manufactured together, thus all three sets of numbers could match. Out-of-state cabinet factories did not know what serial number mechanism would be supplied, nor was it necessary that they know. The cabinets were shipped to West Orange empty.
My contention remains that two of those sets of numbers - - the cabinet ID plate and the motor number - - were matching when purchased by their original owners. The National Phonograph Company made it clear on product labeling that no license was granted for use if the name plate, serial number, or trade mark was removed or defaced in whole or in part. George P. -----Original Message----- From: Rich <[email protected]> To: Antique Phonograph List <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, Jan 11, 2011 8:33 pm Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Matching serial numbers What I said was the mech and tag match but those 2 do not match the cabinet numbers even though all of the cabinet numbers do match each of the other cabinet numbers. It is a given that the mech has been changed if it fails to match the tag on the case. And as you said, many mechanisms were replaced due to wear and failure. The lubricants of the period were not up to the task in any way so parts failed. On 01/11/2011 07:20 PM, DeeDee Blais wrote: > If a machine, such as a big Amberola, has been in the same family since new and > the serial number on the mechanism does not match the ID tag, I would suspect > that the mechanism was swapped out near the end of its useful life span. Lets > say a Amberola 1-B was sold new in 1913 and saw continued use until being > replaced by a radio in 1928. In 1923, the spring broke and it was cheaper to > replace the entire mechanism with one from a parts machine rather than > install a > new spring. It's only my best guess that this happened more often than > something being swapped out when new. > * > As a side note to my story... The Amberola was moved to the attic in 1928 and > sat there until Mike Stitt bought it in 1985 for $500. He kept all the 5000 > series cylinders that were bought in the 1920s and sold me the machine for > $1500. Jerry Blais > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org > > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
