All Activity

https://youtu.be/2zH91P63jN4

This is a lot of fun to see. Thanks for the detailed photos. There are so many small differences between the Canadian Berliners and US Victors. Really fascinating.

Even the yoke securing the elbow to the back bracket is different! A very appealing machine. George P.

If you have not noticed, a new forum topic has been added: "Featured Phonographs". https://forum.antiquephono.org/forum/25-featured-phonographs/ Check it out and please enter your own featured phonograph and comment on those already posted. Maybe your favorite machine, or rarest, or with the best "back story", or latest find, or......

MODEL: Berliner KT SERIAL #: 1824 YEARS MADE: ? COST: ? CASE/CABINET SIZE: 11-1/2 W x 11-1/4 Deep TURNTABLE: 7-3/4" dia. REPRODUCER: Exhibition MOTOR: 1 spring HORN DIMENSIONS: 9-1/2" dia REPRODUCTION PARTS: None CURRENT VALUE: INTERESTING FACTS : Basically a Canadian version of the Victor I, but with many subtle but unique features. Notice the striping scheme of the back bracket. The horn elbow, while appearing to be the same as the US verson, has a totally different construction method. The bent part of the elbow is cast brass, while the flare is formed from sheet brass. The two pieces are then brazed/soldered together. You can see the seam in the photos. Notice also the similar but different horn elbow clip and thumbscrew. Eschutcheons for crank and speed control are also uniquely Canadian, as is the nameplate. I bought this at last year's APS Midwest Show. I was taken by it's diminutive size and near perfect condition. (Honestly, the tonearm plating is far better than the pictures suggest.)

Thank you, Rene!

That is such a great story! And the Victor III isn't exactly an eyesore either!!! Thanks for sharing - I especially like the part when it makes it's way through the flood in a garbage bag! A lot of our machines have probably been through very dramatic circumstances - rarely do the stories along their way stick with them! I too remember the strong feelings evoked at the sight of a gramophone at that age!!! I was fortunate enough to sell a very splendid Victor VV-XVIII ( an unusual beast in Europe) to a 12-year old boy who came and bought it along with his supportive parents, for 200$, this was only 2 years ago! His eyes shone!!

Slotted, but it falls off routinely!

My Col. AA came with a reproduction, fall-off crank, (with the spiralled/helical drive slots). The original crank that I located & use is a slotted crank, not a fall-off style, with straight drive slots. Which style is considered correct?

The motor for this toy will be a very hard part to find. You never know where one can turn up. Are the figures original?

Mary, Yes, the reproducer & turntable appear to be correct. However, as you mentioned in your PM, the motors do not. Hopefully, the other small bits will be correct as well.

Actually, I did finally post a listing on uShip. I have used them in the past with decent results. We'll see how it goes.... Fingers crossed. Thanks!

Thanks Mary. Was the lid restored? Can you tell if your cardboard figures are original? There is a hinge in one of your photos on the left side, but can't figure out what that's for. I;m not talking about the hinge for the horn. Would love to see more photos of the rest of the wagon and as Jerry requested, the box of parts. I do see you have the long piece of wood that connects to the start/start lever in the front of the wagon. From what I see, you may be missing the steering wheel as well.

Show us the box of parts. It will help us figure out what you're missing... if anything.

I figured out how to add pictures. this is what I have, along with a box of parts.

the

Hi Mary I have a complete circus wagon in which I took pictures for you. I hope the photos help with what you need. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. These really are great toys. Here is a video I made several years ago of it working. Scott

Post some pictures of what you've got.

Thanks for the great comments!

Rene, your acquisition story may be more mundane, but the prices (even for 1962) and appearance of that horn are eye-opening. The decoration of your beautiful horn looks like Tea Tray Company work.

I have a Model C with the same pully configuration, s/n 312936C, although not as mint as Jerry's.

That's a wonderful machine. I wouldn't dream of changing the mandrel. We all have plenty of machines capable of playing 2-minute cylinders. This Gem's history as an ICS-dedicated phonograph is just one thing that makes it very special. Plus, of course, its condition. This is something to treasure and only demonstrate with ICS records. What a stunning and historic phonograph!

Wow. That's a really great story, George! It's incredible that you had a second chance to get the very same machine you had lusted after in your earliest collecting career. I truly feel your pain at having missed it the first time. Been there, done that. My Victor III story is infinitely more mundane. In the summer of 1962 my mother drove me (I was 13) to visit a collector/dealer in Greenfield, MA. He had a mind-boggling collection, with machines stuffed everywhere. I don't remember the details, but somehow I left with a very nice Victor III that cost me all of $8. It had a typical black Victor horn. It was a very welcome addition to my then-small collection. In December of 1962 my father came across a blue morning glory Victor accessory horn in a local antique shop for $1. My parents gave it to me for Christmas, and I immediately put it on the Victor III. I absolutely loved that upgrade. I still have it today, and I take pleasure in the fact that it has become the APS 'mascot,' used on the website and in all sorts of mailings. It really is pretty, and it attracts far more attention among non-collectors than any other machine I have ever owned. Sometimes beauty trumps rarity.

Patrick, I'd be happy to add your Amberola 30 to my list! Would you be willing to share some photos of it? I've been keeping a file of images for each of the machines in my study so I can always refer back to them. I show the movement of the ID plate from the cabinet interior to the rear bedplate occurring somewhere between 56000 and 60000. It moved from the bedplate to the lid between 140773 and 141475. Most sellers of the earlier 30s probably don't know to look in the cabinet for that data plate (or it's poorly photographed) so I have less data on the earlier machines than I do the later ones. I'm recording all the data you mention, with the exception of the ratchet sounding crank. I know that's a feature of the earliest machines, but since I've built my data on old sales listing photos, I haven't been able to ask about that yet, but definitely will note it when I officially start a survey. I can't say I've noticed any other unique features on the earliest machines, but my sample size for them is also quite small. I'd love to get an early 30 myself someday. The only example I own is 226177, in the late style simplified cabinet. The data I've been collecting so far for the Amberola 30 is: Data plate style (Black japanned vs. Brass) Data plate location Pinstripes (Full striping, Edison decal only or none) External Speed control (yes or no) Reproducer set screws (one or two) Reproducer type and finish (Diamond C in nickel or black or Model H) Mandrel shape (flat end or rounded 'bullet' end) Horn guide shape (V-notch, loop or post) Lid support (one or two screw) Motor board screws (flush mounted on the earliest machines or rounded on later) Mandrel (The dull grey end of the mandrel is nickel on some of the last 30s) Cabinet style (I've noted 4 distinct cabinet styles) and cabinet factory number (when possible) I've been collecting the same information for the Amberola 50 and 75, though those models retained the same cabinet style for their production lifetimes (for the most part, the 50 has some special exceptions I plan to post about later).