Allen,
As a general tendency, the number of lines beneath the "D" did increase over
time. However, in my earlier email I stated, " there were minor changes in the
decal that weren't used in a linear chronological progression." You wrote that
"the application of these decals (and possible chrono matching to chassis) was
not done by TAE in any absolutely precise manner." So we seem to agree. As a
general pattern, the increasing number of lines on the Home decal indeed holds
up.
However, the original poster mentioned determining the approximate year of
manufacture through the decal. In my own anecdotal observations in over 100
collections, I found enough exceptions to that pattern to eliminate the decal
as a valid tool for dating. To be clear, I found decals with 18 lines on
machines serially numbered below examples with 14 lines. At first I wondered
if the switching of lids was responsible, but there were enough of these
exceptions to raise serious doubts.
There are several manufacturing characteristics which appear with similar
inconsistency, and which I examined in detail in an article on suitcase Homes
which appeared in The Sound Box in September 2006. Like the decal variations,
there are general patterns, such as open frames being the first type of upper
casting to be employed on the Home. However, to use this characteristic alone
in determining a date for a particular machine could skew the estimate by more
than a year from its true age. I fear the "decal dating" is equally suspect,
despite the general pattern.
The theory that doesn't hold up is accurate dating based upon the general
pattern; not the general pattern itself.
George P.
-----Original Message-----
From: AllenAmet <[email protected]>
To: phono-l <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, Dec 19, 2012 4:41 pm
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] DECAL ID. on Red Banner Edison Home A-
Dennis, I was indeed responsible for that "theory" and published it (with
illus) in APM.
Obviously, it is anecdotal information, as the application of these
decals (and possible chrono matching to chassis) was not done by TAE in any
absolutely precise manner.
However, I have never seen such a decal (those little black lines
beneath the letter D in the colorful scroll) with less than ten lines (late
1896
on). The next series (1897-98?) seems to be composed of 14 such lines, and
the series after that had 18 lines (1899-1901?).
It is a mystery as to why each time the decal was manufactured and
applied they made those lines finer and finer (and hence more numerous). I
certainly invite collectors to take a close look at their 'Suitcase Home' lids
and verify (or not) whether the general pattern I noticed still holds up. I
haven't seen any evidence (so far) to disprove this observation.
Allen
_www.phonobooks.com_ (http://www.phonobooks.com)
--------------
In a message dated 12/19/2012 2:34:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
Yes, I remember that. It involved the number of lines beneath the "D" of
"EDISON." Unfortunately, that theory didn't hold up,
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