Edison Home Phonograph and Silvertone Master Portable dates

[KevinMcCluney]

I have an Edison Home Phonograph serial number 242729 from c. 1906 - 1909 (see plate pic).  I also have a Silvertone Master Portable that my grandparents bought new, possibly in the 1920s.  I'm hoping someone can help me refine the dates of manufacture for these two players.   Thanks!

[phonogfp]

According to original Edison sales data, Home #242729 left the factory in January 1907.  An illustrated article describing all models of the Edison Home (A-F) and including a serial dating chart appeared in the June 2024 issue of the Antique Phonograph Society magazine.

 

George P.

[KevinMcCluney]

Thank you very much!

[phonogfp]

You're very welcome!

 

George P.

[CrackedWormgear]

For your Silvertone portable you will have to provide a picture. Because there are several variations of these machines out there.

Also you may need to check online for a vintage Sears catalog website. Also check the Internet Archive site: https://archive.org

 

They do have some down loads of vintage Sears catalogs.

[KevinMcCluney]

Thanks for the information.  I checked the archive you referenced and the closest match is from the 1928-1929 Sears catalog.  I've attached a photo of the player and the catalog page (the $9.95 model is the most similar).  That's a piece of foam rubber in the horn - I put it there decades ago since it improves the sound quality.  

[BenL]

2 hours ago, KevinMcCluney said:

Thanks for the information.  I checked the archive you referenced and the closest match is from the 1928-1929 Sears catalog.  I've attached a photo of the player and the catalog page (the $9.95 model is the most similar).  That's a piece of foam rubber in the horn - I put it there decades ago since it improves the sound quality.  

It's actually a 1927 model.

(https://archive.org/details/The1927EditionOfSEARSROEBUCKCatalogue1970ReprintAlanMirken/page/n409/mode/2up?q=master+portable&view=theater)

[KevinMcCluney]

Thank you very much!  Cosmetically it's in rough shape, but it still plays well.

[Springmotor70]

I love that Ad.  I have dozens of machines but that one makes me smile because in 1927 when my Grandmother was out living on her own, (she turned 18 that year) and she saved her wages from the shoe factory and bought a Portola for $14.95.  She even remembered that she paid $14 and that it had just an opening for the horn (no grille) and the speed control was a screw.  She said later Sears had a sale of 50% off so she purchased one for her mother.   It was lost in a storm in the 1950s and so when I found one, I had to buy it.  She had passed by then but it always makes me smile.  I got my first phonograph when I was 11 and when I was 16, for Christmas I received an Edison P-1.  My grandmother noticed right away how nice the sound was - strange back then I was oblivious, not knowing about machines designed to play electrical recordings...