[Phono-L] Phonograph purchases nearly forgotten

Andrew Baron andy at popyrus.com
Mon Jun 25 15:57:13 PDT 2007


  Hi Bruce ~
Your story about the previous owner forgetting about the original  
boxed reproducer reminds me of an Edison Home model D that I bought  
at a yard sale around 1987.  I had just bought an old player piano at  
the sale and noticed that there was a box of 78's, so after looking  
through them (nothing special) I asked if he had any record players  
for sale.  It was mostly household items, and I didn't see any, but  
thought I'd ask anyway.

He said no, but then a neighbor who was helping out with the sale  
said "yes you do, Bob, that one in the back closet of the kid's room  
--  You know, the one with the carrying handle?".  I was picturing a  
suitcase portable as I followed him into a long-disused, cluttered  
room.  He had to move a couple of things, and there on the floor of  
the closet was a nicely preserved Edison Home model D.  Under the lid  
it still had the reproducer-change label and the pin stripes were a 9  
out of 10.  Model H reproducer installed.  The wood case was dull and  
there wasn't much gold left in the front decal, but it was a  
complete, solid machine.

I asked if he had the horn (it was otherwise complete except for the  
belt).  I had to describe it to him before the light went on in his  
mind.  He disappeared and came back a minute later with a very beat  
up, but correct black petaled Edison Home horn.  No crane, but who's  
complaining.  He had no idea what to price the machine at, so I  
offered $200 which seemed to make him very happy.  Even 20 years ago,  
that was not a bad price for either of us.

I was to return shortly with a borrowed truck and four strong friends  
for the piano, but for the moment, I was literally pulling away from  
the curb when someone shouted and stopped me.  The fellow had just  
realized he had "some records" for the phonograph.  So of course, I  
waited and a moment later he emerged with two boxes very full of 4  
minute wax cylinders.  There were about 70 or 80 of them.  He said  
something like "if you're going to have the record player, you'd  
better have the records too".  I asked how much, and he said "you can  
have 'em".  I didn't argue.  When I got home and took a closer look,  
I found that most had matching title lids, and nearly all were in  
beautiful shape.  A typical mixed assortment with a few fun titles.   
Suddenly the $200 spent on the machine felt like much less.  The  
phonograph needed only to have the belt made, and a minimal cleaning  
and lubrication followed by a a speed adjustment.  The mandrel  
bearing and spring were both quite good.  I put a nice horn on it,  
and I still have it today and use it regularly.  Writing this  
remembrance makes me think about going in the next room and taking a  
fresh look at it.  Thanks for the reminder about folks who -nearly-  
forgot something.  Makes you wonder about all those who remembered  
too late for the buyer.

Best,
Andy

On Jun 25, 2007, at 1:29 PM, bruce78rpm wrote:

> ...I was fortunate that the party from which I acquired my A-250  
> had also  saved this unique Edison reproducer Box for all those  
> years. Oddly, they always used the machine to play standard 78rpm  
> records with a conversion tone arm and victor gold reproducer. When  
> I asked about the Edison reproducer, they seemed confused but then  
> said. "Oh, you must mean that odd looking thing in the black box  
> over here. We have never used that"
>
> Bruce


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