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  #1  
Old 07-06-2010, 08:52 AM
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Bill Cahill Bill Cahill is offline
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Smile My Edison Home B cylinder phonograph restoration

Just finnished refinnishing main case on this machine I picked up as a parts machine about 8 years ago.
I'll be putting a cygnet horn on it.
Here are pictures as it stands now......
Let me know what you think......

;D Here are some pictures of machine the way it sits today. I finished re finishing the main case yesterday. New decal.
This was a junker parts machine when I got it about 8 years ago. Most people wouldn't have even saved it. I don't regret that I did.




Well, how does it look so far???
Is the decal in the right spot??????
Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 08:54 AM
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Here is a picture of my Fireside I'm working on. I posted this in another forum.

Well, after going to the Orlando Antique Phonograph Show today, I new have a rough original horn, a repro. crane, and, a K reproducer with a bad 4 min. needle. Pot metal was swollen, but, I was able to carefully shave it down, and, it fits the carriage, again.
Here is a picture of the machine as it sits now.... ;D

Bill Cahill
Oh. I also picked up a Standard horn for my B standard, but, no crane yet....

Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 08:55 AM
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And, here's my completed Standard from an earlier posting in other forums.

I have a original crane, and, now, my standard horn on my Standard. Here are some pictures of it playing one of my favorite 2 min. cylinders, "The armorer's song".






How's it look?
Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 08:57 AM
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I have a number of favorite BA cylinders, but, one such favorite is "The lady behind the gun". It's a lively instrumental, and, I love it.
A good book to get for correct information is the Edison Phonograph book by George L Frow. It covers history of all models of the Edison line.
Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 08:59 AM
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Here is an earlier picture of the machine. The only early one I have of it.
This was after replacing many of the parts.
Still original bed plate, and, I wasn't happy with it.
I decided to get a better one, which I did.
At that time, I was having alot of bugs to repair in it. Please notice the conversion kit, and, the lever for changing the two speeds.
This would have been about 7 years ago....

Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 09:00 AM
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Well, my reproduction nickel plated elbow that goes on the reproducer arrived today, but, not the horn neck, yet.
Hope that arrives soon.....
I'm getting anxious to hear my cygnet horn play.....
Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 09:02 AM
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And, as prommissed, here are pictures of my Edison Home Now with a Cygnet horn.
I had to get a different reproduction crane because the one I had wouldn't work with the horn.
I also had bad luck with repro elbow being too short, so, I bought an original.
Enjoy.....
Bill Cahill





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Old 07-06-2010, 09:04 AM
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I'm waiting for a better condition bed plate to come for it now. It has almost all the pin striping, compared to 80 percent on this one.
I've carefully selected the best condition original motor parts for it, and, motor has very little gear noise. It's in great shape.
This is one of my big favoritees along with my model B Standard, and, my Oak Amberola three.
Bill Cahill

In fact, this is one of the reasons I'm taking so long on my tv restorations. I'm catching up on projects like this.
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Old 07-06-2010, 09:05 AM
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And, now, except for re-painting rusty neck on the horn, the machine is finally finnished. I have put the best bed plate on I can find, and, an original Edison elbow.
The machine plays, and, looks great. See pictures below. They'r mixed up, but, you will be able to tell the finnished produt by the display room it's now in.
Enjoy....









Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 09:08 AM
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Well, I just did a tone, volume, and, speed test on 4 of my favorite 4 min. cylinders. My comparison machine was the Amberola 3. Here are the un proffessional, though realistic results.....

Amberola 3
Speed 160 rpm
Volume Loud, clear.
Tone Somewhat sharp treble, deep bass.
Reproducer Rebuilt Diamond A.
Horn INside metal horn

Home
Speed 160 rpm
Volume Loud, clear. Not quite as loud, but, close second.
Tone Nice Treble, fairly deep bass.
Repeoducer Rebuilt H.
Horn No. 10 Cgnet with a rubber connector going to an original 45 degree elbow connecting to reproducer.

Conclusion, While not surprisingly, the Amberola 3 does play slightly better, the Home is very well holding its' own. The sound is fantastic, and, I am very pleased with the sound produced with the cygnet horn.
I can easily see why both the past, and, present populrity of the cynet horn.
I am very pleased with this machine!
I am a very happy camper!!!!!

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Old 07-06-2010, 09:09 AM
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Here are some better pictures of some of my machines in display room. First, the home. Then, my Amberola 3, and, Wm and, Mary DD, and, then, my Not yet finnished model A Fireside.
Bill Cahill



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Old 07-06-2010, 09:32 AM
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Were they originally that shiny, or did they have a more "satin" finish ? Every one I've ever seen the finish has been pretty well "Shazbat", so its kinda hard to tell...In any case, GREAT job ! These things, if given any kind of care, will be working happily 125 years from now, easily...Most of our other precious toys-at least the newest ones, more than likely WON'T...Kind of a paradox there, I think...
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Old 07-06-2010, 09:40 AM
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I'm envious. I've thought about getting one of these in the past, but they're always really expensive on eBay. I can never find time to go to the local flea/antique/radio markets or events.

The cylinders on the other hand are pretty reasonably priced.

Those are a nice piece of history.

John
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  #14  
Old 07-06-2010, 10:53 AM
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Bill Cahill Bill Cahill is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandy G View Post
Were they originally that shiny, or did they have a more "satin" finish ? Every one I've ever seen the finish has been pretty well "Shazbat", so its kinda hard to tell...In any case, GREAT job ! These things, if given any kind of care, will be working happily 125 years from now, easily...Most of our other precious toys-at least the newest ones, more than likely WON'T...Kind of a paradox there, I think...
I have had some machines with mint original finnishes, and, report that when new the finnish was glossy.
In fact, the bedplate has aged some, and, isn't as glossy as when new, and, that's original.
Bill Cahill
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Old 07-06-2010, 11:02 AM
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Bill Cahill Bill Cahill is offline
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Thanks for the compliments. I try hard to do as good a job as I can, trying to stay faithful to original finnish. I also made it dark, as, the original color was antique oak.
Does your state have a yearly antique phonograph show?
I think there's one coming up in NJ soon.
We have ours near the end of every January. Ours is in Orlando.
I've gotten some of my best deals there.
You have to know what you want, what you have to spend, and, what the value is of what you are thinking of purchasing.
I can answer individual questions if asked about a certain machine. Pictures are usually helpful, and, if on internet, links.
Always willing to help.
Bill Cahill
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