All Activity

On October 20, 1928, Thomas Alva Edison was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The ceremony took place at the Edison Laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey. Dignitaries who spoke that day included Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. Mellon (who presented the medal), Charge d’Affaires of the British Embassy Ronald lan Campbell (who presented Edison with the original phonograph loaned since 1880 to the South Kensington Museum), (cylinder 3-2), Dr. John Grier Hibben (President of Princeton University) and Edison himself. (Source 78rpm.com) Seeking additional contributions. This LINK will render a “directory-tree-like-structure” allowing the viewer to “point-and-click” for review and / or download.

Excellent images! I'm convinced that they're by Parrish, alright.

As many of you know, I've been collaborating with Chuck Azzalina for several months trying to compile a list of Type AA serial numbers to see if we can find some meaningful information. We're up to 50 now, so it's slowly starting to take shape. I am attaching a summary of what we have so far and would be interested in your own insight. As can be seen, there are some anomalies, such as an award decal on 701222, long before any appear on others. This sort of thing might well just be an example of a case or other part being swapped out sometime in the past 125 years. I also still find it very peculiar that there is such a large gap between 709775 and 711975, when other numbers seem to be spread fairly evenly. Not a single machine in the 710000 range has turned up. If there is anyone reading this who has a Type AA and hasn't shared information, we would certainly appreciate hearing from you. The more data we can get, the better we can understand the evolution of this fascinating little machine.

I believe at least the radioton guy was based on Maxfield Parish art. Here are some images of what appear to be Maxfield Parish art done for RCA Radiotron. I don't own these ads and don't remember where I found them, but I sure do like them.

It would help to know where you're located. We don't exactly need your address, but maybe state, or city, or province?

My Rishell has not functioned since I bought it from a local farmer a few years ago. Where can I send the operational parts to be repaired?

Nice pieces! Took me a minute to get the play on words with "Bandy," as in "band," since he's obviously a drum major. Stupid me, and I played a band instrument, too. Mmm, maybe that's why.... They could very well be Maxfield Parrish. Something about the faces; see https://www.wikiart.org/en/maxfield-parrish/the-knave-of-hearts-1925-2 Also this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxfield_Parrish#/media/File:LIFEMagazine30Aug1923.jpg Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), Philadelphia native, Quaker, Haverford, PAFA, Drexel. Go Phillies! Fly Eagles Fly! and all that jazz.

Since my original post I've learned more about the Radiotron figure and last weekend found the GE radio guy as well. The radiotron figure is called The Selling Fool. The GE figure is named Bandy. Here they are together with a few other extras.

You and I both, Nate.😉

I'm wondering if there is something I can do with this Meltrope III soundbox. It doesn't really sound much better than the exhibition on an open horn HMV machine I use. To me it looks like everything is in order, no damage to the diaphragm, the ball bearings are in place and the rubber is supple enough. Am I missing something? I expected a notable difference to a 1913 exhibition... Greatful for thoughts! H

Nate, based upon your recent acquisitions, I'd say you're doing just fine! 😉 George P.

Wanted Pathe' center start records. Jerry

Congratulations George! I look forward to seeing what it looks like when you're done with it. Boy, maybe I need to get out more...

Thanks, friends. Had it appeared on our front porch I couldn't have been more surprised. Well...maybe a little... That is indeed a quick-release lever on the Exhibition. It's frozen up, as is the horn elbow clamp plate and screw. Looks like it spent many years in a barn or a cellar. George P.

That appears to be a quick-release lever on the Exhibition, too.

Nice Saturday surprise indeed! Congratulations!

Congratulations George!

I like a bargain as much as the next guy, but in good conscience I couldn't pay only $30 for this at a garage sale, much less at a church sale! George P.

Maybe I should start going to church again! What a find. It should clean up real nice, as the saying goes. Congrats!

If you had attended our church sale for the last 5 or 6 years, you could have purchased a phongraph there as well. Not one as collectable as this one, however, and nowhere near that cheap. Wow!! For several years I donated a phonograph to our church sale. Two reasons; 1. The buyer was always excited and overjoyed to get it, which was fun to see, 2. Our church ladies had a way of getting prices for them that I never could, so my small donation netted a nice profit for the parish. Everyone's happy.... but maybe not as happy as you are with your find. (Kudos, by the way, for "correcting" them on the pricing.)

What would you do if, while walking through a church rummage sale, you saw this? At a church rummage sale??? Unbelievable. Sure, it's crusty, and parts are rusty, the turntable felt is roached, the slip-on crank and a couple of the column capitals are missing. But check this out: I felt like I was back in the 1960s. Who in their right mind priced this? The church ladies were astonished when I paid them several times their price for this. Everybody's happy. George P.

The late Allen Koenigsberg extensively documented this diorama feature at the 1915 Exposition (world's fair). This LINK will render a “directory-tree-like-structure” allowing the viewer to “point-and-click” for review and / or download the transfers of the 2-minute BA’s for Zone D and Zone G, used in the PPIE Diorama exhibit or to review documentation. View PPIE Grounds Map Diorama in grouping 87 – 91 Reference also: https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/835-victor-talking-machine-co-pavilion/#comment-3769 for a topic René posted reference the Victor Talking Machine Co. a unique domed building: "For the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition (world's fair) in San Francisco, the Victor Talking Machine Co. constructed a unique domed building to house exhibits and demonstration halls. Despite promotional pictures that implied it was a stand-alone building, in reality it was built inside the massive Liberal Arts Building (see photo below). At the close of the fair, the pavilion was sold (along with many other buildings and architectural features). The Victor building was loaded onto a ferry and moved to San Rafael, north of the Golden Gate. There it served for decades as a community center. I had been there several times and never knew it was the Victor building until much later."

Of the 10 private BA’s from the 1915 recording session for Henry Ford, contributors have provided transfers of 4. Although all 10 are in the Henry Ford Museum, Henry was known to have duplicates recorded and given to local schools which are likely the source for these. There were 17 private BA’s from the 1925 recording session with 4 later being cataloged and offered for sale on BA. Some may have also later become available on disc. One, not released on BA has been transferred as well. This LINK will render a “directory-tree-like-structure” allowing the viewer to “point-and-click” for review and / or download.

Thanks for posting the link, great info!

Wow, Dan. I'm so glad you bought that record and did this video showing it off! The sound quality is superb, and I loved the graphics (especially the variety of colorful Columbia sleeves)! What will you do next???