Good Googly Moogly! What a fine collection of machines you have there, Bill. Nice restorations too! :yes::tresbon:

One of my favorite "Pawn Stars" episodes includes a guy trying to sell his Edison machine. Of course, the "primer" info they give pales in comparison to this thread.

My Dad collects Victrolas - everytime someone comments about them being "the original record players" I correct them and mention the Edison cylinder machines. And of course, Dad doesn't have one. He passed up a FREE one several years ago and now realizes his mistake.

Please continue to share - I'm in envy!

Cheers,

:yes: Thanks. You've cheered up my day.... :yes::thmbsp:
I will post more as time allows.
Bill Cahill

Looks great Bill! Very nice work.:yes:

I have a "Polk-Phone" which was made by James K.Polk Co. in Atlanta. It has an ID plate on it, but no model #. It plays "flat" records rather than cylinders, I'd estimate it circa WW1. The guy me & Bethany bought it from at a festival said it was a "Child's model", which explains its modest size for a floorstanding unit. Sounds & works pretty good for what it is, the finish is that rather ugly mottledly brown-black "Used motor oil" look that for some unknown reason, was The Shiznitz back then. Its in excellent shape, finish wise, just STILL Butt-ugly, otherwise I'd had it refinished by now.

There were a number of makes of child grammophones made then. Usually missing parts.
If you got a complete, original one, you are indeed lucky.
They are a collector's item, and, collectors like them for their small size.
You are right. They are a child's machine.
They usually were painted, sometimes with paintings, or, decals of mother goose charactors, or, whatever.
Never had one.
Bill Cahill

Seems like I paid about $300 for it, but Miss Priss was doin' Cartwheels for me to get it, & I never was able to say "No" to that young 'un...And she sure got a lot of pleasure out of foolin' w/it...If somebody came by the house, & she was here, she's show it off, & play a record for 'em...Me, I'd be standin' back, w/a big, silly-arse grin, beaming w/pride...

Why don't you make a thread on it, with pictures? I'd love to see it, and, I bet others would, as well....
Bill Cahill

wow
 

I love the look of early phonographs and gramophones...this thread has made me decide to sort out my very basic 1920s HMV gramophone ... it needs a new reproducer ..must get that sorted first!

Bill you have some very nice machines. Is edisons all you collect? I have two victors a Victor E and a victor 2 humpback.

No, but, I'm afraid my income is very limited.
I'd love to again have a Victor 3 with a black metal horn, but, too pricey for me.
Wish I could trade for one.

I have a cheap Brunswick table model, a couple of Victor orthophonics, both needing work, and, a batch of Edison DD machines.
I'm looking for other stuff. It's just too pricey for my budget....
I'm so mad at myself. Before I realized what I had, I oned bought a victor V with a brass belled horn for 75.00, as a teen ager.
I traded it for a junk tv.
Yikes!
I'd rather have the Victor!!!!
Bill Cahill

I need a record cabinet for my vic 2, know of one for sale?

Nope. Hard to come by, and, expensive.
Bill Cahill

Wow those ae goregous Billy,you have alot of talent!!!

I trust you still have them.......... Wow some people are amazing http://www.videokarma.org/images/icons/icon7.gif