Steve, I agree completely and hope for collectors interested in these
machines that at least a few more will be found. The thing that supports the
'few' is that they were made for only a year (more like 10 months), were
very expensive and a good estimate of orginal production numbered about 200
machines. Frow wasn't much help. It seems that somebody at the National
Monument could be a scource of desperately needed information regarding that
machine and the number mfg.. I bought the machine from Charley H. and in
talking with him and at least one other rabid collector, those are the
numbers that are known and a good guess as to the number built. Charley told
me he had gotten the machine from the original owner in N.J., somebody that
had worked for Edison. There were many old pictures, some autographed, all
to do with Edison or the Company on the walls, when he got the machine. He
thought it to be someone high up in the Company.
As far as I'm concerned I hope 100 more turn up sooner than later. It
wouldn't affect the value of mine in the least, not to me anyway. Spread the
happiness.
Very best,
Bruce M.
Memo to Bill Taney: Sorry Bill, too late. I had the case stripped, cut down
those stubby feet and had the whole thing bleached almost white. Then I had
gladiolas and other fauna and flora painted on...it REALLY stands out
against that white. I've had people tell me they've never seen anything
quite like it. ;-)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Medved" <[email protected]>
To: "Phono-l" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2011 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] 3 Known
Hello Bruce and list,
The amount of phonographs known depends largely on how well we as
collectors are willing to communicate with each other and to the
researcher.
The Triumph G is a good example I believe there were about 6 of these
known to exist and then a new one appeared on eBay in the Opera style case
with the lid, bottom and columns missing, it was in poor shape. A
mahogany one with its horn sold for $8777.00 on eBay years ago, I do not
know if this was cataloged or not.
Terry Baer has done research which is available on his website, but again
he is dependent on collector input and what he sees. I do reproducer
research and I am dependent on eBay and those generous collectors that
share photos and serial numbers.
There are two barriers to sharing, privacy and people not wanting to
lowering the value. If you found a warehouse with 100 Victor VI in their
packing crates and sold them all at once............
The 2 minute J in the Frow book, I spoke with the man that discovered it
and it was the only one he knew of. I told him about the one I saw on
eBay and since then a second one appeared so now I know of 3.
I am still trying to find people with model O reproducers with the all
brass nickel plated top, over the past 10 years I only found one with a
serial number around 3500 but I lost the e-mail when my computer died.
These days I get most of my research from eBay. So far I have 92 of the
iron and brass O's in my list. At least 8,000 were made so around 1000
should have survived. This is actually the most commonly found O, but
since it does not swell it is among the most desirable ones to have.
In closing the amount known will give you an idea of the rarity, but as my
old cranky friend has pointed out the amount known is a fraction of the
ones that actually do exist. Perhaps one day we will learn more.
Best regards,
Steve
UH-OH, have I been taken? I was told that my Edison C-1 is one of six
known. According to the known serial numbers mine is the latest making it
the last (accounted for) Diamond Disc machine. I sincerely hope that is
not
the case.
Bruce
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