Columbia Type B "Eagle"

[Tinfoilphono]

Such a wonderful tintype...........

 

The original of this photo belongs to a friend. It's a great image.

 

[Tinfoilphono]

And of course, this stereoview is a real classic.

 

[phonogfp]

Nice images, Rene!

 

Here's another one - - the resolution is so clear, you can see the early 4-screw plate at the bottom of the spring barrels!

 

George P.

[Tinfoilphono]

I love the two-tube adapter. I have the exact same one on my exhibitor's Eagle. But I don't have the wires for the earpieces.

[phonogfp]

Another example of the two listening tubes that came with the Eagle.

 

These two look a bit too young to smoke!

 

George P.

[phonogfp]

[Tinfoilphono]

Pure beauty!

[Fran604g]

An entire convocation!

Edited January 17, 2021 by Fran604g

[phonogfp]

Here's another image with an Eagle.  This cabinet card just surfaced on eBay:

 

[MusicCity]

I really enjoyed reading this topic a few years ago. I have a very nice Columbia Eagle, but recently I ran across a variation which at first kind of puzzled me. I looked it up on this forum and found this topic being discussed. I brought home an Indiana badged machine like the one George supplied photos of. Everything checked in comparison, except the badge which is moved outward to where the lid frame might sit. The belt cover is completely blank and the serial number is 81853. I thought I would share some photos, immediately after I brought it home, no clean up or polishing. 

[phonogfp]

Thanks for posting this very clean example!  I have documented a few of these Spear & Co. Eagles.  So far their numbers are 80809, 81714, 81804, 81853, and 84864.

 

I'm hoping that an example with another Spear & Co. lid decal will appear.  I suspect the Spear lid decals were a slightly later manifestation.

 

Thanks again for posting!

[ducretet]

Hello,
I have two eagles. One is the one that was exported to France. Attached photos. The serial number is located on the base plate and on the hood cover. The mandrel has the label.
A question:
Does anyone know if the eagles exported to France have correlative serial numbers? Or are they random?
Thanks for your comments.

[phonogfp]

Ducretet,

 

Your Eagle was manufactured as a caseless model, exported to Europe, and cased there.  Its serial number falls within the known range of caseless models (although very late for caseless).

 

George P.

[ericreiss]

I have an early "Eagle" (serial number 177945) that was sold in Europe at which time it received a plain, un-decaled, square case. I suspect this was done in either France or Denmark. It came with an after-market Bettini reproducers (unmarked pot metal). This is the one I pictured in my book, The Compleat Talking Machine.

[AmberolaAndy]

I am now happy to be an owner of an early (1897-1898) model Eagle. 
After restoring my Q 5 years ago, I am now restoring my first machine made in the 19th century. And I have 5 more year’s experience this time too!

Edited February 21, 2023 by AmberolaAndy

[phonogfp]

Andy, you might find this helpful with your Eagle restoration:

 

 

George P.

[AmberolaAndy]

15 hours ago, phonogfp said:

Andy, you might find this helpful with your Eagle restoration:

 

 

George P.

Looks good. Shouldn’t be more difficult than taking apart that Q. I’ll give it a good bath in PB blaster or WD40 to clean ‘er up. I bought that year newer case. (I’ll try to find a lower S/N for a base someday later it’s just for aesthetics currently. But the lid is the appropriate 3 Broadway address lid) I bought a speed control and winding key too. The winding key has some surface rust so can I use a copper brush to get it off? Anyway George, I appreciate those instructions BIG TIME. And I downloaded your articles about the Eagle. Your June 2012 article is very helpful.

[phonogfp]

For surface rust on the key, I'd recommend Evaporust.  Eagles and Qs have a flashed nickel finish which helped prevent rust.  If you brush that away, you're left with bare steel, which would look different from the flash nickel finish.

 

George P.

[AmberolaAndy]

Ok. I have mine it apart and I’m currently cleaning the parts off.

there are parts where the nickel finish has worn off but it’s not gonna be the filthy machine it was a few hours ago.

[AmberolaAndy]

And here we are…back together. 
 

no serial number stamped at the back so this is a early one. 
 

Springs have been greased and gears are oiled.
 

 

[phonogfp]

47 minutes ago, AmberolaAndy said:

no serial number stamped at the back so this is a early one. 
 

 

Andy,

 

The serial number stamped on the back edge of the baseplate is found only on late uncased Eagles.  In all probability, your Eagle was originally a cased example, and could date anywhere between August 1897 to mid-1898.  It's not possible to date it more precisely.

 

George P.

[AmberolaAndy]

Ok y’all! I borrowed some parts from my Q machine and played a record!

 

Apparently the Eagle takes a shorter speed control than the Q. (It was missing on my eagle.
 

and I will still need a reproducer for this machine. I’m using a original (very beaten up) japanned cone horn.

 

Critiques are welcome.

 

 

[phonogfp]

It sounds pretty good, Andy!  Eagles aren't known for their playback quality - after all, they were inexpensive machines in their day, which contributed to their enormous popularity.  The novelty of recorded sound in one's own home was enough in the late 1890s.

 

George P.

[AmberolaAndy]

10 hours ago, phonogfp said:

It sounds pretty good, Andy!  Eagles aren't known for their playback quality - after all, they were inexpensive machines in their day, which contributed to their enormous popularity.  The novelty of recorded sound in one's own home was enough in the late 1890s.

 

George P.

George do you know by any chance what kind of bolts or screws are supposed to hold the mechanism to the base? The case didn’t come with any. (And I bought a too long speed control meant for a Q)

Edited February 28, 2023 by AmberolaAndy

[phonogfp]

2 hours ago, AmberolaAndy said:

George do you know by any chance what kind of bolts or screws are supposed to hold the mechanism to the base? The case didn’t come with any. (And I bought a too long speed control meant for a Q)

 

 

Andy,  offhand I don't know the thread pitch, but I can try taking one to my local hardware and have them check it.