Edison Amberola 30 study?

[cyanblue]

I know, I know, the little common workhorse…

 

Have the Edison Amberola 30 variations over the full production run ever had a posted/published study, even an approximate serial number and date range for those variations?

 

For example, the very first Amberola 30 run with gold pinstripes, exposed speed control, front grill, etc. and when these early details were dropped.

 

And the opposite end, the late/final version with the more plain case, and the high serial range (I believe in the 220k range?).

 

Thanks,

Patrick

Toronto, Canada 

[phonogfp]

I've never seen such a study, which really should start with an online survey of existing machines, focusing on serial number, and a handful of evolving production characteristics.  The longer the survey, the less likely it is to be completed.

 

George P.

[BenL]

I don't remember where I heard it, but the later models (sorry, I don't remember after what point) had the model tag in the lid. 

[NateO]

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.

 

 

[phonogfp]

Great information, Nate!

 

The Edison signature decal you mention: where was this located?

 

George P.

[Tinfoilphono]

Fantastic information, Nate. Thanks for sharing that.