phono-phan Posted October 19, 2023 Posted October 19, 2023 I followed up on a lead about an old phonograph for sale. It was about an hour away from me. It ended up being a Columbia BG with the 2/4 minute gearing. I am not too familiar with this model but it is quite impressive. The lady I bought it from mentioned that this was her grandparents and that when she was a little girl they would bring it out for special occasions. And, they were NOT to touch it. It came with a LOT of cylinder records including many 20th Century ones. Unfortunately, all the wax ones are totally covered in mold. But, the cases are very nice. There are several dozen 2 and 4 minute Indestructible ones in great shape. There is another feed screw assembly also. I wonder if it was replaced when the 2/4 minute gearing was added. The horn is one of the best ones I have ever seen and it has the correct crane. I can't wait to get this one all cleaned up. There is also a small slip of paper describing the reproducer. When I left their house, I received a call about another phonograph available. It ended up being an Edison D Standard with the cygnet horn option. The potmetal bushing and H reproducer are bad but in great shape otherwise. The "To Do" pile for projects is getting a bit long. 5
melvind Posted October 19, 2023 Posted October 19, 2023 A nice machine and all those cylinders. I hope at least a few are playable. 1
phonogfp Posted October 20, 2023 Posted October 20, 2023 What a nice haul - I really like that crane too! Congratulations! George P.
Valecnik Posted October 20, 2023 Posted October 20, 2023 Nice find Ken! That won't take much cleaning. Somewhere I have that same record slip describing the "special spring tension reproducer." The horn is amazing. Could you post a few more pictures of the crane? I don't think I've seen that variant.
phono-phan Posted October 20, 2023 Author Posted October 20, 2023 I have been asked for more pictures of the crane. The picture of it taken apart is before cleaning. The other two after cleaning. There is minimal plating loss. I will post more pictures of the machine once I start to get it cleaned up. 1
phonogfp Posted October 21, 2023 Posted October 21, 2023 Thanks for the crane shots, Ken. I'd love to know who made it. Finding yours still in the same family - and with a Hawthorne & Sheble horn - made me wonder if perhaps H&S made the crane too, but it's not in any of the four H&S catalogs I have. I have the same crane, but with a different foot that won't let me use it on my own BG because of the machine's tall molding. Maddening... The best part is of course the piece that fits around the upper casting. Again, I'd love to know who made it! George P. 1
phono-phan Posted October 21, 2023 Author Posted October 21, 2023 Does the front part of your crane foot touch the table. It seems like it isn't. And it doesn't look like if you lowered the vertical post that the foot would have to move too far forward. Puzzling indeed.
phonogfp Posted October 21, 2023 Posted October 21, 2023 No, the foot doesn't touch the table, and even if it did, the foot wouldn't clear the molding. With the shaped piece around the upper casting it doesn't work on a BF either! George P.
phono-phan Posted October 21, 2023 Author Posted October 21, 2023 Are the upper parts of your crane similar to mine? I have to wonder what model yours would fit better on. Thanks for your input. Ken Brekke
phonogfp Posted October 21, 2023 Posted October 21, 2023 No, my upper parts are different, but yours are likely correct - just like the one we showed on page 145 of The Talking Machine Compendium (Fig. 4-42). George P.
Valecnik Posted October 22, 2023 Posted October 22, 2023 Very cool Ken. Please do post some more pics once it's cleaned up and back together~
phono-phan Posted October 23, 2023 Author Posted October 23, 2023 I had some time to do some cleaning on the Columbia BG. The case and upper works came out great. Next it to do the motor. I might need to extract the little spring on the half nut as is seems weak after cleaning it all. The mandrel spins nice and smooth. 1
phonogfp Posted October 23, 2023 Posted October 23, 2023 As I pointed out in an article on B-series Graphophones that appeared in the December 2022 issue of the APS magazine, the BG cost the same as an Edison Triumph ($50.00), but the BG had a 4-mainspring motor, mahogany cabinet, lots of nice nickel plating, and the ability to play 6-inch cylinder records (which admittedly proved a failure in the marketplace). I know which one I'd have bought! George P. 1
Valecnik Posted November 4, 2023 Posted November 4, 2023 They certainly are attractive machines. Nice job on the cleaning Ken. Not overdone.
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