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An Eagle under 1000 is pretty good, Rene! After all, there were only 1000 (or 999) ever manufactured! George

And to think I was excited to find an Eagle under 1,000.... Under 100 is next level!

Here's the earliest-known Eagle (as of today), #40, and the only one known to carry this early Broadway and 27th Street decal on its lid:

Thanks, friends. I'm grateful to Howard's friend, Rob Mallett, for remembering my interest and making it possible for me to add this one to my collection.

George, this literally could not be in better hands. Tho it took a lifetime, congratulations!

Wanted: Edison C-2 record album books C and D. (Already have A and B). Thanks. - David

Fantastic, george!

Wow. I am in awe. You are definitely the King of Eagles but I totally share that passion so this one is an absolute grail. Kudos on a fantastic and historic score.

MODEL: Type B ("Eagle") Graphophone SERIAL #: 80,040 (Serial numbering for this model began at 80,000 making this the 40th example manufactured.) YEARS MADE: 1897-1907 COST: $12.00 cased (as is this example). REPRODUCER: #2 MOTOR: Two tiny mainsprings HORN DIMENSIONS: 10" long conical black REPRODUCTION PARTS: None CURRENT VALUE: ? INTERESTING FACTS : Many years ago, while shooting pictures for our books, I became acquainted with this Eagle Graphophone in the collection of Howard Hazelcorn. I don't recall which detail seized my attention first; the lid decal or the serial number. Either one is pretty important in my world. I told Howard that if he ever decided to relinquish this primordial example of the Eagle Graphophone, I hoped he would remember me. Howard just chuckled. After Howard passed away in 2020, it eventually occurred to me that this Eagle might be among the many artifacts to go to auction. No, it was not. Rather, it had been sold to a close friend of Howard's. I told this close friend the same thing I had told Howard years earlier. The friend didn't chuckle, but told me that he would remember my interest. I expect most collectors have heard this before, and we all know how often that pans out. Much to my surprise, I heard from Howard's friend in September 2026. He was downsizing a bit, and offered me this Eagle - - the object of my 25-year yearning. I can't quite believe it's here. The earliest-known Eagle (#40 out of approximately 150,000 manufactured), and the only known Eagle whose lid bears a decal listing Broadway and 27th Street, New York. I included a picture of the lid in an article found in the June 2012 issue of the APS magazine, page 10. To the casual collector, this might look like a typical Eagle lid, but it's not! No other known Eagle decal carries this early address. This may also look like a typical Eagle mechanism, and it is...with one exception... The data plate for this Eagle shows it to have been assembled during the first day of production. The 40th Eagle off the line.

Yes! You're right- It really should have been a sure thing. But why the seller couldn't have at least met me half way in the "wanting the new buyer to pick it up" was just nuts. Talk about limiting the market to buyers in Ca. within driving distance.. And not that I'd want this machine to be junked out for parts because I still think it's a rare model and in very good condition, why hasn't a California collector picked it up? 75 dollars, that's a bargain for a machine that rarely turns up. I know rarity does not always equate desirability. I paid $130.00 for mine after a $100.00 refund and even if it didn't arrive in the same condition it left the seller, I was still glad to get it. The damaged part has already been replaced for less than the $100.00 refund.. I'll just save my money to purchase a new high efficiency furnace instead. $600.00 will go a long way towards that Cordially Yours, Bob

Wow thank you for the detailed response! I will consider all of these! 5. I got the term wrong. I actually meant reproducer not repeater. I'll post up with progress...

That’s a lot fun!

Hogan, another source for needles again in Europe: http://www.tonar.eu/

“Old Man Jazz” by the All Star Trio 1920 When I first played this record I immediately thought it sounded like a Halloween song. I don't think it really is, but it works well with the halloween theme so I played a bit and had some fun with it.

Thanks for these great leads! In Europe which is great!

Thanks for responding, Rene. My reasoning behind the sequence I've offered is that the "1st version" was illustrated in the late 1898/early 1898 Phonoscope as well as a late 1898 Polyphone catalog. I'm pretty confident that it must the the earliest design. The "2nd version" (fancy casting) is shown in a catalog from the Talking Machine Company of Chicago dating between late August and November 1, 1899. I suppose that what I'm calling the "3rd version" could have appeared briefly after the "1st version" and before the "2nd version," but - like you - I've seen no documentation of that simplified design. It's nicely finished and engraved, which could suggest that it's actually earlier than the fancier casting. I'm hoping to learn! Thanks again, George

Definitely an interesting question. I have never seen the first in real life. I'm curious what your thinking is in the production order of the other two. I've seen the catalog listing for the fancier one which you call number 2, but I haven't seen any literature on the last example. The only one I saw in person was in the Hazelcorn collection. I don't know where it later went. Its simplicity of design prompts me to think it likely came before the fancier one, but that's just a gut feeling. They could well have decided to simplify it further. I've only seen one original example of the second, fancy one. It was in the collection of the late Neil Maken, of Yesterday Once Again. (I know the current owner but he prefers to remain anonymous.) In the late 1990s Maken made 12 replicas which were very nicely done. Those are rarities in themselves today.

I'm interested in learning more about Polyphone Attachments for Graphophones, and would be grateful to hear from other owners or anyone with further information on these interesting gadgets. There were evidently at least three different versions. Here's the earliest, as shown in early catalogues from the Talking Machine Company of Chicago and advertisements in The Phonoscope: I assume the second version was this: Finally, what I am surmising was the third version: Again, I'd love to hear from anyone who has further information on these Polyphone Attachments for Graphophones, or who owns one (especially the first version - which I've never seen in person. Thanks! George Paul gpaul2000@aol.com

Ugh. Sorry that didn’t work out. Seemed like a sure thing!

Aaron, The problem of the turntable slowing can be caused by a number of conditions. I'll start with the most common/most easily fixed and work down from there: 1) The mainsprings are not being wound enough. Many newcomers fear breaking mainsprings by overwinding them. As you know, a BI Disc Graphophone has two mainsprings, and you should expect to wind them at least 40 crank revolutions to play a single record. With experience, a user will recognize when the mainsprings begin to offer serious resistance. This will not harm healthy mainsprings. Once the mainsprings are fully wound and the crank can no longer be moved is the point beyond which you should not proceed. Until then, there's no cause for concern unless there's something wrong with the mainspring(s). If that's the case, it (they) will probably break soon anyway. 2) The steel needle is not being replaced WITH EVERY RECORD. 21st-century humans often find this requirement absurd and will use the needle until their inexperienced ears suggest that it might be time for a new needle. The fact is, acoustic-era records (pre-1925) were designed to shape the needle to their particular groove geometry by the use of abrasives mixed into the record material. A dull needle being dragged through this abrasive exerts significant drag on the mechanism. In addition, some Columbia records of the acoustic period are notorious for slowing/stopping the turntable - especially if worn. Try several records. 3) The tone arm has not been lubricated. It's important for the tone arm to be moving as freely as possible in vertical and lateral directions. 4) When you replaced the bevel gear, did you allow a tiny bit of play? Tight gears rob power. 5) What's a "repeater" on a BI? 6) There are many, many, MANY opinions on the best lubricants to use on talking machine motors. It's true that too much "stiction" or sliding resistance will severely decrease a mainspring's power. Your idea of clock grease might be a good one as long as it's heavy enough. Talking machine mainsprings are generally heavier than clock springs. In general, we apply grease to mainsprings and the first gear(s) being driven from them. Then, a quality (NO THREE-IN-ONE) mid-grade oil for the intermediate gears. I use 30-weight automotive oil, but I've heard good things about Zoom Spout, Super Lube, and Lubit-8. The governor needs good quality sewing machine oil on the shaft where the sliding collar moves, and on the felt/leather pads that limit the collar's outward travel. I use Tri-Flow, which is formulated with PTFE., but any similar oil will do the job. ALL BEARINGS NEED LUBE WITH A GOOD SEWING MACHINE OIL! 7) If the mainsprings on your BI were left wound for many years/decades, metal fatigue may have weakened them. The only cure for that is replacement. You shouldn't need to manually spin the turntable to bring the mainsprings to full rest. Typically, the turntable acts as a flywheel when the motor is running, and will continue to relax the mainsprings even after they are at full rest - and this can sometimes cause the mainspring to detach from the arbor. Experienced collectors usually don't allow their disc machines to fully wind down after use, but leave a bit of tension to keep the spring(s) in place. I hope the foregoing will be of some help to you. Good luck! George P.

Hi. My first post on this forum... I just refurbed an our family's old Graphophone which hadn't worked for about 80 years! It's very exciting. It sat unused due to a missing bevel gear and repeater. I got a new bevel gear, cleaned everything up, greased and oiled springs and gears, replaced all the reproducer parts and got it working. However the platter slows down to a stop. It helps to lift up slightly on the arm. And, actually that was the situation right after I repaired it and now it barely spins when pushed. I used lithium grease for the two barrel springs -- I'm seeing that might be it. I ordered some clock grease from Ronell Clock. Am I on the right track here? Please share thoughts on other stuff to consider. Otherwise I can get to work taking the motor apart... which brings up my second question: I'm going to have to keep spinning that platter until that spring is fully unwound, correct? How will I know when it is done releasing tension? Thanks! Aaron

In the many photos of Bacigalupi boxes that I saved from the internet over the years I found another variation - the 14th! Now I only need a flat scan or better photos of it - who owns that box please? It is quite easy to identify, as it is the only one that has three house numbers at Market Street listed below the large Edison logo: "933 950 952". Being similar layouted as the label "1b", but not having the later "1030 Market Street" address listed yet, I would put it before that and give it the number version name "1a3". It has some other differences compared with "1b", like the prices for the Columbia Graphophone and Business Graphophone and also the address information right of Edison's portrait. So, now let's try to find even more variations. Are there any? Cheers Helmut

Yes, indeed. The files René gave me also include the original text in which Ray explained the sequence, based on i.e. the different prices, when a particular machine was launched or other historical events (Baldwin fire). Ray did a very good job and several other collectors helped finding additional variations. Original it had been 5 that he knew of. Later it became 9 and then 12. We are at 13 now and there surely are one or two more. Hopefully they will be discovered. Cheers Helmut

Wow - some of those box labels can be dated by the prices listed for the Eagle, Gem, Spring Motor, and Concert. They must have been issuing new labels every few months! Thanks, Helmut. George P.

Great overview! It's astonishing how many variations there are.