My Edison Home B cylinder phonograph restoration

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Sandy G]

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...

[Bill Cahill]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

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

[Bill Cahill]

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

[Findm-Keepm]

Good Googly Moogly! What a fine collection of machines you have there, Bill. Nice restorations too!

One of my favorite "Pawn Stars" episodes includes a guy trying to sell his Edison machine. Of course, the "primer" info they give pales in comparison to this thread.

My Dad collects Victrolas - everytime someone comments about them being "the original record players" I correct them and mention the Edison cylinder machines. And of course, Dad doesn't have one. He passed up a FREE one several years ago and now realizes his mistake.

Please continue to share - I'm in envy!

Cheers,

[Bill Cahill]

Thanks. You've cheered up my day....
I will post more as time allows.
Bill Cahill

[zenithfan1]

Looks great Bill! Very nice work.

[Sandy G]

I have a "Polk-Phone" which was made by James K.Polk Co. in Atlanta. It has an ID plate on it, but no model #. It plays "flat" records rather than cylinders, I'd estimate it circa WW1. The guy me & Bethany bought it from at a festival said it was a "Child's model", which explains its modest size for a floorstanding unit. Sounds & works pretty good for what it is, the finish is that rather ugly mottledly brown-black "Used motor oil" look that for some unknown reason, was The Shiznitz back then. Its in excellent shape, finish wise, just STILL Butt-ugly, otherwise I'd had it refinished by now.

[Bill Cahill]

There were a number of makes of child grammophones made then. Usually missing parts.
If you got a complete, original one, you are indeed lucky.
They are a collector's item, and, collectors like them for their small size.
You are right. They are a child's machine.
They usually were painted, sometimes with paintings, or, decals of mother goose charactors, or, whatever.
Never had one.
Bill Cahill

[Sandy G]

Seems like I paid about $300 for it, but Miss Priss was doin' Cartwheels for me to get it, & I never was able to say "No" to that young 'un...And she sure got a lot of pleasure out of foolin' w/it...If somebody came by the house, & she was here, she's show it off, & play a record for 'em...Me, I'd be standin' back, w/a big, silly-arse grin, beaming w/pride...