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Fantastic information, Nate. Thanks for sharing that.

Great information, Nate! The Edison signature decal you mention: where was this located? George P.

For some time I've worked on collecting data on the Amberola 30/50/75, just by perusing auction sites and other online images. I'd eventually planned to open the survey to other contributions with the hope of writing a study on the 30, but I've always been better at starting projects than I have been at actually finishing them. My Amberola 30 spreadsheet currently contains data on 435 examples. As you said, these are common machines, but excellent workhorses and deserving of study. For what it's worth, I can provide some answers to your queries. The full pinstriping was the first thing done away with, sometime before serial number 11000. The Edison signature decal lingered for some time later. The highest serial number I've seen with that decal was just over 63000, but that also seems to be an outlier. The earlier machines are harder to collect data on, because the data plate is located in the horn compartment and most sellers don't bother (or know) to photograph it. The exposed speed control seems to have stopped a bit before serial number 71000. However, it can be found sprinkled throughout the run of the Amberola 30, since they were available as ICS machines with a special Model H reproducer instead of the usual Diamond C. The highest serial number I'm 100% confident had an exposed speed control is in the 194000 range, as it is equipped with the ICS Model H reproducer. I also have exposed speed controls in the 204000 and 224000 serial number blocks, but I’m less certain of their authenticity. The late style plain cabinet you mention shows up around serial number 200000. Interestingly, somewhere between 227000 and 228000, Edison actually reverted to the previous cabinet style with base molding and that "fancier" cabinet was standard for (most) of the rest of the run. The lowest serial number I have seen is 243, and the highest serial number is 235322.

No, I haven't. I've owned many tinfoil phonographs over the years, both originals and replicas, but this is one of only two that I decided were simply too delicate to take that risk. As beautiful as the lacey castings are, they are very fragile. (The other phonograph was a small machine by Vital, made of wood with a plaster of Paris mandrel. Less delicate than this one, but still ridiculously fragile.)

Wow! You've certainly started this off with a real jewel! Have you ever attempted to record & play back with it?

I can only guess that Allen came up with the Poole attribution because of Read's alleged New Jersey origin. (Poole was based in Newark.) Poole did make at least one sample machine for Edison but I've found no evidence that any were actually sold to the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company. There are some pictures of this machine (taken by Edison's nephew Charlie) but they show a heavy and industrial beast, not remotely like the delicate craftsman machine featured here.

What a wonderful example of an early Tinfoil Phonograph! A great start to this category. We included an image of this machine in our first book, The Talking Machine Compendium. At the time, Allen told us that it might possibly be the work of Alex Pool, but again - no hard documentation. George P.

Okay, I'm happy to start what I hope will become a very active series of threads. This is probably the rarest machine I have ever owned: MODEL: Tinfoil SERIAL #: None YEARS MADE: circa 1878 COST: unknown CASE/CABINET SIZE: 13" x 10" TURNTABLE: --- REPRODUCER: combination recorder/reproducer MOTOR: hand-powered HORN DIMENSIONS: none REPRODUCTION PARTS: none CURRENT VALUE: Anyone's guess INTERESTING FACTS : This early tinfoil phonograph was first discovered by Oliver Read sometime in the 1930s in the northeastern United States. Read is best known as the co-author (with Walter Welch) of the seminal book "From Tinfoil to Stereo," first published in 1959. Unfortunately nothing is known about its maker. It was evidently made in the US, in violation of Edison's patents, as is evident from the non-metric hardware. The metal castings are very ornate and quite complicated, which would lead me to believe that more than one would have been produced in order to amortize the foundry costs, but no others are reported to survive. The machine is illustrated on page 21 of the early editions of "From Tinfoil to Stereo." Read's caption suggests it was made by "an independent maker in New Jersey" but he offers no evidence for the assertion. Read kept the machine in his collection until the late 1970s or early 1980s, when he sold it (along with several other phonographs) to the late collector Allen Koenigsberg. I acquired it from Allen about 20 years ago. In addition to highly ornate castings, the wooden base has elaborate carvings, some highlighted with gilt, and inlaid marquetry. There is a small hidden drawer in the back to hold spare stylii and other supplies. I first saw this machine on Christmas day, 1962, when my parents gave me a copy of FTTS. I was enchanted, but I could never have imagined that several decades later it would highlight my own collection.

Featured Phonograph TEMPLATE GUIDE MODEL: SERIAL #: YEARS MADE: COST: CASE/CABINET SIZE: TURNTABLE: REPRODUCER: MOTOR: HORN DIMENSIONS: REPRODUCTION PARTS: CURRENT VALUE: INTERESTING FACTS :

You're right. It's a Union No. 1. No, I haven't found one that's complete in good condition yet.

Have you tried UShip.com? I've had great luck finding people with space on a load who delivered to my door for low cost. That's how I got an Edison Schubert from a ranch in Texas.

Sort of off-topic, but maybe of some interest, there's an 8-4 (http://www.victor-victrola.com/8-4.htm) at the top left of that Facebook page. It appears to have a brass sound box (nine holes). At $150, the price seems right.

That's a fun idea! Phono of the week, a sort of spinn off from the featured phonographs that used to be on the TMF, which I really enjoyed back in the day! Extra interesting machines for whatever reason...

Here's one that's a tad closer to you... https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/112063472143583/search?query=victrola&vertical=C2C

Honestly, I seldom start a new topic on any forum. Probably 98% of my posts are in answer to a question or to comment on a machine, etc. If more people posted here, chances are I would too, (like now!!). I realize that does not help to get any forum to get "busy", but maybe it's the case with the low participation of others as well?? In that vein, I posted a new topic on TMF some time back when I noticed it was also getting low traffic, (yes, perhaps due to performance issues), and it seemed to spark new life. Maybe APS forum admin could "salt" this forum with conversation starters?? Phono of the week posting?

There's no question that the TMF gets more traffic than the APS Forum. That's an artifact of the users rather than attributes of either forum. George P.

If traffic is the main concern, there are a half dozen Facebook groups that get more traffic than either forum. Other factors one might want to consider are user support and future availability imho.

this is my first post to APS. Looking at Acoustic Machines on APS, the 5th topic is dated April 21st, while on TMF the 5th topic is dated May 10th. There is still way more traffic on TMF compared to APS. Am I missing something?

A kind fellow enthusiast made me aware of a Granby Console Phonograph currently in the Washington State area. Normal people would give up and simply think that is too far or unrealistic, especially for an Off-Brand. [I am in Eastern NC] But, before I move on to bigger and better things, I figured I would create a post, just on the off chance that there may be some collectors in the Oregon or Washington State area that would remotely entertain bringing this phonograph eastward sometime, at their convenience, in the coming months..... Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I have been quiet for a while but my name is Chris and I am an avid collector, mainly focusing my travels in the Virginia, NC, and Maryland areas. I have "almost" run out of room and am now focusing my attention on Granby or Leviola brand phonographs, since I wrote the book and it has become a sentimental quest, at this point.

I have ordered an Amberola B-VIII gear cover. Have not received it yet, but I think all is good. Thanks! Lee

Prius w/178K miles is currently getting ~49 mpg. And just to keep this thread phono-related (it's a stretch, I know), my XI will run about 5 minutes on a one fool-power complete windup. (Apologies to George Washington Sears, a/k/a Nessmuk, who described his canoe as a "one fool-power" craft.)

I think it will calm down and get back to "normal". Seems like all web forums have their periodic tempests in a tea kettle.

Hi, Wanted a horn type authentic vintage working condition gramaphone. I am from india, if any seller can ship to India please do let me know. This has been my long wish to get a horn type gramaphone and it would be my first one.

Nice Pooley cabinet .with working record ejector mechanism. Fits a Victor VI, IV or any other large machine nicely. Seen here with a Victor IV which is not for sale. Well functioning casters make it easy to roll around with a machine on top. Comes with a blank record list booklet. Outside has been rubbed out or refinished, inside doors have an extra coat of laquer, as seen in pics. Looks real good. Asking $375 or make an offer, delivered to Schaumberg. I won't bring it to the show unless it's pre-sold. Contact me with any questions. Thanks!

I guess I've got you, Henry and Jerry beat at least with age but not miles. Our Škoda Fabia 1.9 Liter standard diesel turned 25 years in February. Only 128,000 miles on it and almost maintenance free. Not a lot of options, no AC and crank windows so not a lot to go wrong!