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Thank you so much! When it got serviced we were told to be very careful with winding it up to not over do it as it will break the mainspring (we were told it was in very bad shape from that when we brought it in, but we can't be sure if that was us or the previous owners) so it's just made me very wary about how much we are winding it up. It took about 40 turns to get to the point of noticeable resistance before we got it serviced, but I think that may have been too much given what the guy said after the service. I will try winding it up more incrementally until it plays through a whole record without slowing. Hopefully that will avoid putting too much pressure on the mainspring/over winding it 😊

A common issue for new owners. If everything is in good condition, you can't really "overwind" it. Aside from intentional abuse, there is no such thing as "overwinding." You'll feel a sudden increase in winding tension when fully wound. Stop winding when you feel that. Abuse only occurs if you force it past being fully wound. All that being said, I almost never fully wind. These things are old, why stress them to the max? So, how far do you wind? There is no correct number of turns. Every machine is different. You already know you're not winding enough. Move on from there, increasing your winding until you can play a record all the way through. The next record may need just a few additional turns to get it through the tune. Again, experiment a bit. You'll soon get the feel for it. Without feeling resistance when you wind, you're not winding enough. It takes energy to play a record. If you're not inputting energy/effort, the machine won't have the oomph to play a record.

Hello everyone! I have a Sonora Barcarolle gramophone and am looking to get some advice on it. It was recently serviced (we only got it back a few days ago) and should be running fine. However, I'm having trouble working out how many times to turn the crank. I don't want to over wind it so have been stopping as soon as I feel any increase in resistance, but it seems to not be creating sufficient power to play any of our records. How many times should I be turning the crank on this model? I've read conflicting advice ranging from 15 turns to 35-40 turns. Thank you!

What a delightful coincidence!

Thanks for all this, Glenn! I'm reminded of a remark made by Jerry Blais, which ran something like this: "We collectors/dealers drive across the country simply to sell to each other; and occasionally to a new person." As the years pass, I see the truth in this more and more. Thank you for taking good care of this little Amberola - - I'm doing the same for the next owner. Best, George

I just knew it! I sold that Amberola VIII to Ron at the Union show of 2012. It was a package deal with a Columbia rear mount Aretino. Plus a shipping box of NOS Aretino records. I acquired it in 2005 from my former boss at the RVC Community College television dept Guy Fiorenza. Guy was a great person who in his spare time played the bass in a traditional Jazz quartet. He also was into mechanical music machines and had a Link model 2e coin Nickelodeon. And also one of the largest collection of radio premiums. Decoder rings and such. He was also into circus history and was custodian of the Joe Taggart model circus. https://www.facebook.com/groups/746747155443425/posts/4665810396870395/ The Amberola VIII was once owned by one of his Great Aunts from Janesville Wisconsin. Later he offered me the Blue Amberols that came with it and still do have. When I got it he had put a new belt on it. But it had a really messed up tension pulley spring, so I had to repair that and put on a new belt. That may still be the one I put on. With a good round cylinder it played real well: Back in 2012 I had a much smaller house and needed to free up some space. My back upstairs bedroom was storage for phonographs that were not on display. So to free up some room off to Union they went. Most likely the money received was spent on a cylinder storage cabinet and more records. When I saw this post I immediately recognized this Amberola. I thought it was a special example and I can also understand why you think so too. And it’s in a good home also. Regards, Glenn

Well, there's no secret about it - Ron Haring was the seller. I'd be pleased to know its provenance! George P.

This Amberola VIII looks very familiar to me. If this came from a notable Illinois dealer who hails from a town with food related name, I may have some provenance background.

Anyone seen anything like this one???

The only people I recognized were the Donley's and Jerry Blias - I'm only 10 years in to this hobby, but it was quite a fun view - I wish I started sooner

I remember your AN, Rene! I seem to remember seeing a picture of another example of this tag somewhere, but it escapes me at the moment. I thought one was in the Compendium, but I couldn't find it. I'd be pleased to know of other examples of this tag. Surely there are more than two survivors! George P.

I would like this collection to go to the right home all 40 records + containers and lids excellent condition+2 broken records + my bissy bee player + 3 sound needles +two horns 2250.00$ that's 250 for the player and 50$ a pice for the records

Wonderful!! That's the same dealer tag as on my AN:

You're not wrong. Rene's Cleveland Graphophone Co. plate is mounted to a Type AN. Does anyone know of other Cleveland Graphophone Co. metal tags like these two? George P.

Am I wrong or is the 2nd photo posted by Tinfoilphono in the very first message the same as this one?

Nice dealer tag right over the decal. I'ver seen over decals before, but this is new to me. Really nice.

Here's another Eagle with a dealer marking - - this time a metal plate. George P.

A kind collector knew of my interest in unusual Eagles, so he offered me this one. It's entirely conventional except for the lid: My thanks to this collector (a member of this forum)! George P.

Deutsche Grammophon-Aktien-Gesellschaft in Berlin has been delivering double-sided records since July 1, 1907.

Thanks! As to its playing, I haven't played it in years - - probably for a decade. I do recall that it didn't play as well as an Amberola V which is one of several "daily players" here, but I don't recall a noticeable warble. You're right - belt tension and the free play of the tensioner is often the culprit in cases of warble. George P.

Beautiful machine! I really like the way they've painted the grill and the condition is great. Say... how does it play? A lot of cylinder phonographs seem to warble quite a bit - I see it has a belt - I suppose that's the weak link in the chain usually?

Yes - that otherwise black end-plate is yet another aberration. Those weighted Lyric Reproducers don't appear very often either! George P.

Thanks, George! No, the 10" horn wouldn't make sense, (even without my knowledge of the original catalog listing), but as you say, it's a nice one. As I recall now, the price was a good one for the horn alone. I also find it interesting that only the s/n is shown, with none of the other data included on later examples.

MODEL: Edison Amberola VIII SERIAL #: 2419 YEARS MADE: October 1913-December 1914 COST: $45.00 CASE/CABINET SIZE: 16 1/4" deep x 13 1/2" wide x 16" tall. Depth and width measurements include base. REPRODUCER: Diamond B MOTOR: Fireside B REPRODUCTION PARTS: None CURRENT VALUE: ? INTERESTING FACTS : Here's another example of a machine that isn't terribly scarce, but it's a cute little wedding cake in very nice condition. I bought this at the 2012 Union show, and probably paid more than market value at the time (to say nothing of now). Still, it was Sunday and we were preparing to head back to New York State. I had bought next to nothing at the show, and you all know that feeling... You drive 11-12 hours to get there, spend three days looking around, and you're going home with NOTHING? Well, I've always had a thing for the Edison "faux-grain period" of ca. 1910-1914. The A-series Disc Phonographs and several of the early Amberolas feature that wonderful grain-painting that seems simultaneously amusing and masterful. This little Amberola VIII was still sitting in a booth at the end of the show, and I suspect its price had discouraged other interested parties. I thought I might have a chance at getting a better figure at that point in the show. The dealer wasn't sharing my optimism, but as I stared at the thing I decided that I needn't add another "I should have bought that..." to my already lengthy list. I'm glad for that decision. This is original finish. Two faux-grained metal grilles (is that rear one a grille?) and a grained horn rising above it all like an oak swan. Now, you might think that this grille has been repainted. Believe me, although it looks perfect, it's only "pristine." In strong light you can see a few signs of age.