In a message dated 3/16/2008 7:40:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, mark.albertson at comcast.net writes: This is a "late" Home model dating to around 1903-05. It is not a model C. -------------------------- It is the C that morphs, over time, into the 'Home.' Every year, it had fewer and fewer horizontal 'molding' lines. The most intricate cabinet, of course, was the very first in 1900, when there was no flat surface area at all. It was quite handsome. The first Zonophones have a non-phonograph patent (by Valiquet) on the celluloid tag to warn off infringers. The use of the word 'Zonophone' goes back to 1898. There was an interesting article on the subject in (Calif) CAPS. The unusual (and rare) Gibson machine, ca 1900, was never offered for public sale, as far as I know - at least, I have never seen an ad for it. But it was patented, filed for in Mar of that year (with partners Smith and Morton). Allen _www.phonobooks.com_ (http://www.phonobooks.com) **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)