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Post by joepez on Mar 11, 2010 9:00:42 GMT -5
Hello! If someone could please help clear up confusion on my part! I have a Amberola V, however in researching the model it appears to look more like the IV. I attached a picture of the card I found on the inside of the machine which shows the date of 1914. Also is there any way to know if the machine was pre of post fire?
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Post by gibsonj on Mar 11, 2010 9:26:43 GMT -5
Per Frow, the Amberola V is a tabletop model, while the Amberola IV was floor standing. The Amberola IV used a Home Model F motor with a Standard Model G top works. But, the lower belt pulley was larger than the normal Home motor. On the other hand, the Amberola V used a motor similar to the Home Model B, except it had a large flywheel on the mandrel shaft.
Frow also mentions that at some time during 1914 (perhaps before the fire), the Amberola V shipped with a pressed steel grill.
Hope this helps.
John
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Post by joepez on Mar 11, 2010 9:29:15 GMT -5
I have pictures if this would help...however I seem to be a bit "include pictures in post" challenged! Attachments:
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Post by martinola on Mar 11, 2010 11:40:06 GMT -5
Hey joepez!
Very nice machine. Yes, I see that the grille looks more like the A-VI illustration in Frow. He does mention that the V changed to a metal grille later in 1914. What makes me think this might be post-fire is the reference on your inspection tag as "A-5". My reasoning is this: until they were scrambling after the fire to use up the V cases and came up with the B-V (using the Amberola 75 mechanism), they might not have been using the "A" designation. Perhaps this was one of the 33 model Vs that survived the fire intact? It would be neat if any of the other board members have machines with tags or paperwork which might bolster or refute that conjecture. In any case, it's a really nice machine, and if you tire of it, I'd be happy to give it a home. ;D Thanks for posting this.
Regards,
Martin
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Post by maroongem on Mar 11, 2010 16:51:52 GMT -5
Very nice example of an oak Amberola V. The paint is very nice on the bedplate which is a plus as these had peeling problems and I notice the feet are still present. Many times they are missing or chipped. The graining on your horn is also nice and clean.
T "A" on the card could also just denote "Amberola" as this was an ID tag from the cabinet factory.
The ID tag is normally found under the mandrel but I can't see if yours has one due to the position of the carriage in the photo and the angle.
If it is there, what is the serial number?
Bill
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Post by crestonvalleyguy33 on Mar 13, 2010 0:52:22 GMT -5
Very nice V. How does your V sound? The governors on Vs often have problems. Also the Anti flutter pins which pass the motors energy into the heavy fly wheel while leaving behind the vibration,are often broken. Some collectors dont even know when they are missing. I learned quit a bit while dealing with 3 different Vs. Ask me here if you need help.
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Post by alchemist on Mar 13, 2010 16:54:02 GMT -5
Hi everybody,
I'd like to know what the serial number is as well.
What I can offer is that I have a mahogany Amberola V with the serial number 5566 with an interior cabinet tag bearing the date August 14 1914. Perhaps the two together would help date your machine.
And the paint on this machine is really fine. Mine's half gone and has to be redone. The color actually looks a bit lighter than mine, more like the shade of an Amberola VI...which I think is a lighter brown than the V. (At least judging from my machines, and a comment in Frow)
All the best,
Larry
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Post by joepez on Mar 13, 2010 23:42:31 GMT -5
First off I want to thank everyone for responding to my post/request for help! The serial number on my machine is 3493. Larry- my "cabinet" Card (which I found on the inside of the case) does not have a month or day just the year stamped on it.
As to the question of how my V sounds and plays, all I can say is ...WOW! It is truly a great Machine. I have never noticed any issues with speed or anything else for that matter. I have owned my V since 1993 and play it at least once a week. The sound is incredibly clear and loud. Every chance I get I attempt to educate the neighborhood (Parents and Kids) regarding early sound and most are amazed at the clarity, though almost all giggle at the songs.
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Post by alchemist on Mar 14, 2010 0:41:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the info on the serial number. Actually, I think your cabinet tag might have the month and day--the red ink they used for stamping it fades badly--but if I'm not mistaken, I think there's a faint "MA" as in the first letters of MARCH or MAY just below the "HI" of the printed "THIS TAG." The day seems gone, but with a closer look you might figure out which month, unless I'm hallucinating.
Larry
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Post by joepez on Mar 15, 2010 9:34:15 GMT -5
Larry - No you are not hallucinating, however you may have pointed out I need new glasses! You are 100% correct I see it now as well. I believe it is May 1914. Still cannot see the day of the month.  |
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Post by john9ten on Mar 24, 2010 13:51:14 GMT -5
I think the V is one of the finest Amberolas, mine was a workhorse. So quite, nice paint, nice horn. I bought an Amberola A-VI the other day, pristine brown paint (darker than the V - almost maroon) but it's got that infernal noisy gear. Not too bad when the top is down, but open it makes me cringe. Anyone know who can remake these gears?
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shellophone
Junior Member
Stand close enough and you can hear the ocean!
Posts: 69
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Post by shellophone on Mar 25, 2010 8:38:34 GMT -5
Shine a black light on the tag and the faded ink should glow nicely!
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Post by alchemist on Mar 28, 2010 11:56:20 GMT -5
I bought an Amberola A-VI the other day, pristine brown paint (darker than the V - almost maroon) Congrats on finding an Amberola VI-A, especially with pristine paint. That pesky brown paint and your comment about its shade leads me to ask: How many shades of brown did Edison use? My V is very dark, while my VI-C is lighter (and both have original paint). I've been thinking that the Opera and Amberola VI were the same, but the Amberola V was darker (Frow implies this too), but have heard other claims. Perhaps different batches of paint were different shades so some machines of the same designation were darker or lighter than others? What are the experiences of folks on the board who have seen lots of these machines together? Larry |
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shellophone
Junior Member
Stand close enough and you can hear the ocean!
Posts: 69
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Post by shellophone on Mar 28, 2010 14:00:50 GMT -5
Please know that what is being called 'paint' in this discussion is actually a pigmented shellac. That's the reason for the flaking.
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Post by alchemist on Mar 28, 2010 15:57:08 GMT -5
You're certainly correct that the medium for the brown coating is very different from that used for the durable enamel of the black machines.
I'm happy to be corrected by anybody with more info (any factory data floating about?), but, from my own analysis of brown paint flakes, I find that two different layers were put down. First, a thick layer with the pigment. Then a thin layer of shellac on top. I haven't yet identified the binder for the pigment layer, but it's not, so far as I can tell, shellac. (It doesn't dissolve in ethanol and it doesn't melt--the top layer does both.)
If anybody wants the details of the analyses I did (which imply among other things that I have too much time on my hands), let me know either here or in a PM. I didn't want to bore everyone with them.
I'd be interested in everyone's experience regarding differences in pigment color between different models or between different machines of the same model.
Larry
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