My new (old) toy

billcu

billcu

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It's an Edison phonograph. It's a Home D model, has 2 speeds, and plays 2 and 4 minute cylinder records.

It still needs a little work and cleaning. I had to order a sound hose, a mandrel bearing, and a setscrew for the govenor (about 15 bucks). It runs now, but I don't want to try playing a record until I get the govenor working properly.

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For the gearheads, some heavy duty mechanicals:
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It came with 98 records, including a speech from President McKinley:
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It's a nice companion for my Victrola:
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Once I get it working, it might be worth 400 bucks or so. There's not a big demand for them.

It's not one of the rarer models, but they are a bit hard to find in original condition and for sale.
 
can you scratch on it? or do any mixing lol? seriously though, thats wild! what year is that thing from bill?
 
Nice Bill! A number of years ago, I was able to save an old Vic from my sisters house....they had dogs and fleas....it was in pretty bad shape. Sorry I didn't take "before" pics. Anyway, I ended up refinishing it myself. It came out like this:
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The photo doesn't do it justice. Everything works on it.... even the original wooden needles! Good for one play.

I did screw up one thing....to remove the varnish from the top, I used some goop paint remover....big mistake. I thought the lid was solid wood...being made in the early 1900's, why wouldn't I? Yeah, it was veneer and it rolled right off like it was paint! Luckily, at the time, Lowe's sold sheets of veneer about identical to the original grain.... and of course, using the internet, I was able to locate new "His Masters Voice" decals!
 
Oh yeah, forgot about this one:

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It's a "portable" Victrola that I found in an Antique shop that I picked up for a song (pun intended). I haven't (and won't) refinish this one. It's move valuable that the console. Solid Oak. All it's innards work great too.....
 
Thanks guys.

Yes Chris, I'm keeping it, I just took a look on Ebay, there's some nice ones out there, but I sure can't afford those.

Jamie, I'm not sure on the exact year yet but, the Home model was first built in late 1896. The newest patent year on mine is 1906 but the 4 minute cylinder wasn't available until 1908 so mine is at least a 1908.

Bud, nice Victrolas!

It's hard to tell by the photos, but I'm guessing your console is a Victrola XI and the small one is a Victrola IV? Mine is a Victrola IX-A circa 1917. I've also got a suitcase Victrola.

You know that you can buy new steel needles for your Victrolas don't you? They are cheap, and of course, you're supposed to use a new one everytime you play a record.
 
Very cool... :D

Does that have a case, it looks like a portable one, but with a gigantic horn...

:D -J
 
Yes, it has a removable cover that makes it portable, but then you do have to carry that big horn.:D

Here's a photo with the cover on, and a photo of a couple of the records. The black one is a 2 minute, the blue one is a 4 minute.

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billcu said:
Yes, it has a removable cover that makes it portable, but then you do have to carry that big horn.:D

Here's a photo with the cover on, and a photo of a couple of the records. The black one is a 2 minute, the blue one is a 4 minute.
Click to expand...

I've never seen one with that crazy big horn, do you have any smaller horns. I'm pretty sure there was a horn that fit in the case...

Very cool! :D

:D -J
 
billcu said:
Bud, nice Victrolas!

It's hard to tell by the photos, but I'm guessing your console is a Victrola XI and the small one is a Victrola IV? Mine is a Victrola IX-A circa 1917. I've also got a suitcase Victrola.

You know that you can buy new steel needles for your Victrolas don't you? They are cheap, and of course, you're supposed to use a new one everytime you play a record.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill....

The console is a VV-X a S/N 377369 -Made in 1913

The "Portable" is a VV-IV S/N 572453 - Made in 1924

Yes, I know about the steel needles...I have a bunch. Did you also know that the volume can be controlled by the type needle you use? As well as opening/closing the horn doors......It's cool to show young people today these things!!! They say "How/where the heck does it amplify the sound without electricity?" I then go into "TEACHER" mode! :fart
 
BadSax said:
I've never seen one with that crazy big horn, do you have any smaller horns. I'm pretty sure there was a horn that fit in the case...

Very cool! :D

:D -J
Click to expand...

Thanks Joe, the small horn was better for recording, if you had the recorder (I've got the recorder but not the small horn).

Bud, I was only off by one model, on my guess for the X model (I guessed the XI).:D

According to my book, the X-A designation came in October 1917 along with a new style motor and a higher price of $85.00. The price was increased again in 1918 ($90.00) then again in 1919 ($110.00) when the -A designation was dropped.

This is a great book about the Victor Talking Machines, you might want to pick up a copy. It's called "Look for the Dog" (Nipper dog, listening to "His Master's Voice").

Yes, I do know about the doors as volume controls, as this thing cranks out the volume. I've measured 100 dBA coming out of it.:D
 
Radio Shack??

Come on Bud, you know me better than that.:D

Larson Davis 831 type 1 here, I showed it to you at Carlisle.

However, I was measuring at the slats and it was a loud "newer" 78 record called "In a Clock Store".:)

Give it a try, and let me know what you measure.
 
Hey, after 70, memory gos down hill....FAST! After I posted that, I said to self...Hey you dummy, you KNOW he has an LD!
 
You know you're old when you have a full blown conversation about cerca 1900 "record" players. :p
 
J said:
You know you're old when you have a full blown conversation about cerca 1900 "record" players. :p
Click to expand...

But they're cool. Think about it, these things are a hundred years old, and still work as good as they did when they were new.

I've been collecting old machines since I was 6 years old. I still have my original electric trains that Santa gave me. They were old then (Santa didn't have a lot of money). I asked my dad why some of the track was rusty, and he said that Santa dropped them in the snow.:D
I just happily went back to playing with my trains.

I like keeping these old machines running. I doubt if a CD player could even make 30 years.:)
 
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