[Phono-L] A-250 detail update 8-28-07

Andrew Baron Andy at popyrus.com
Tue Aug 28 20:51:05 PDT 2007


With the addition of serial number 11187 (the first A-250 in oak  
included in this documentation), we have some additional  
information.  This machine also has a beautifully intact red paper  
label on the interior facia panel that details the correct speed and  
the adjustment and maintenance of the speed control.  The owner has  
given permission for me to email photos of the label to anyone  
interested.  Here's the updated summary:

Edison A-250 Search for differences in details, and study to  
determine approximate time of manufacture.  Answers in same order as  
on questionnaire.  If the motor board has a different serial number  
than the dataplate on the cabinet, results for specific motor and  
motor board details are listed under the motor board serial number  
(found under platter), while all other results are listed under the  
dataplate number.  Motor board serial numbers are listed without  
their A1 suffix, and cabinet (dataplate) numbers are listed without  
their SM prefix.

Please note that questions 14, 15,16 and 17 have been added to the  
previous inquiry list.  Owner name (question 13) is optional.

This compilation currently maintains the same question order as the  
original questionnaire, with added questions at the bottom, but may  
be updated in future to a better organized format.

Note that we now have three different printing form dates from which  
we can narrow down the approximate production dates of the A-250:  
11-20-12; 4-3-14; 8-20-14.  Please let us know if you have one not  
shown here.  To compare date results, based on the dataplate patent  
number and Form 631 printing form date, see items 10b and 11.

Please consider adding your data to this study.

Thank you,
Andy Baron
Santa Fe, NM

2) Start/stop levers style:
EARLY: Serial #158, #161, #171, #1429
LATE: Serial #5751, #10248, #11187, #12080

3) Bedplate corner detail:
EARLY: Serial #1429
MIDDLE (Similar to early but dots in different place): Serial #5751
LATE: Serial #10248, #11187, #12033

4) # of PIVOTING oil hole covers on bedplate:
TWO: Serial #1429, #5751, #10248
ONE: Serial #11187, #12033

5) Tone modulator present?:
NO: Serial #1429
YES: Serial #10248, #11187, #12033 (dataplate #13417), Serial #12080  
(bedplate #5751)

6) Key escutheon style:
FLUSH MOUNT EMBEDDED: Serial #1429, #10248, #11187, #12080
SURFACE MOUNT WITH GOLD TRIM NAILS: Serial #13417

7) Depth of upper grille groove:
1/4 INCH: Serial #1429, #10248, #12080
1/2 INCH: Serial #11187, #13417

7b) Grille fretwork thickness:
5/16 INCH: Serial #1429
1/4 INCH: Serial #10248, #11187, #12080
3/8 INCH: Serial #13417

7c) Overall height of grill frame:
13 3/4 INCH: Serial #10248, #12080
13 7/8 INCH: Serial #11187, #13417

8) Louvres on cabinet as per Amberola 1A?
YES: #158, #161, #171, (unconfirmed)
NO: Serial #1429, #10248, #12080, #13417

9) Side veneer number of sections per panel:
ONE: Serial #1429, #10248, #12080
TWO: Serial #13417
THREE: Serial #11187

10) Form 632 present?
NO:
YES: Serial #1429, #10248, #11187, #12080, #13417

10a) Location of Form 632:
INSIDE BACK DOOR (upside down when closed):Serial #1429, #10248,  
#11187, #12080
FLOOR OF HORN COMPARTMENT: Serial #13417

10b) Printer’s date at bottom of Form 632:
11-20-12: Serial #1429
4-3-14: Serial #10248, #11187, #12080
8-20-14: Serial #13417

11) Latest patent date on dataplate:
8-29-11: Serial #1429
3-11-13: Serial #10248, #11187, #12080, #13417

12) Other notes:
Serial #13417: There’s a second paper measuring 2 1/2 x 1 1/8,  
printed with “No: 13417, Disc Phonograph, Model A-250” affixed to the  
floor of horn compartment by two tacks.

13) Owner (optional):
Serial #161: Ron Dethlefson
Serial #1429: Andy Baron
Serial #10248 Bruce R. Young
Serial #11187 Private
Serial #12080 (dataplate), #5751 A1: John D. Robles
Serial #13417 (dataplate), #12033-A1: Jim Fox

14) Direction of winding gear teeth in relation to crank:
STRAIGHT: Serial #1429
ANGLED: Serial #11187, #13417

15) Oil tubes present at winding stem bushings? (this is a tube pair  
from a single cup):
NO: Serial #1429
YES: Serial #11187, #12033

16) Serial number (matching or otherwise) stamped in motor frame?
NO: Serial #1429
YES: Serial #13417

17) Evidence of original grille cloth, and color?
NO: Serial #11187
YES: Serial #13417 emerald green

18) Cabinet finish (may add more specifics later):
Red mahogany: Serial #1429
Dark mahogany: Serial #13417
Oak: Serial #11187

19) Number of mainsprings (Frow indicates earliest production may  
have had single-spring motors).  Spring barrels are visible if you  
remove the grille and peer into the motor compartment by looking in  
the upper r.h. corner.  A flashlight helps.  The spring closest to  
the winding crank will be more visible.
One:
Two: Serial #1429, 5751, 11187, 12033.


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