Newby looking for manufacture date?

[poconosteve1]

Hi All, Recently purchased a Standard Model A with serial # S-240416. Can anyone assist with month and year of manufacture? Great condition with original shaver attachment which I understand is bit rare since they didn't work well. Any idea of how many were provided with this attachment? I am amazed at quality build of these machines. Thanks!

[phonogfp]

Hello Steve,

I don't have manufacturing data, but I have sales data. For a fast-selling model like the Standard, they will be pretty close together anyway. Standard No.240416 left the factory about October 1905. This was the first month for the Model B Standard. If your machine has a speed control above the bedplate (which I believe it does), it's one of the last Model As.

All Model A and earlier Model B Standards wee provided with a shaving attachment (although one well-known source claims the shaver was dropped in 1904, examples like your regularly appear with shavers).

George P.

[poconosteve1]

Thanks for the quick response and info. Yes, you are correct, my machine has the speed control above the bedplate. So would still be an A, versus a B? Thanks again..

[phonogfp]

Yes, it's a Model A.

George P.

[poconosteve1]

Thanks again George. I actually just played my machine for the first time. Sound is amazing! Is there any way to tell based on sales records what town or person purchased these units? I understand that mine came from Michigan.
Strange (or not), my childhood hero was Tom Edison. I'm 51. Edison and Henry Ford..amazing Americans!

[phonogfp]

I'm afraid that I don't have any records as to where groups of machines were originally sent. Outside of a retailer's decal, there's no way of knowing unless the original receipt survives.

You might like some of the articles and videos on this website:

www.antiquephono.org

Enjoy!

George P.

[poconosteve1]

Yes..antiquephono.org is a great website..have learned a lot already on there.
Question..Is it best to run the spring down when leaving the machine, versus leaving under some tension? Or doesn't it matter? Thanks

[phonogfp]

I always let cylinder machines run all the way down when I'm finished playing them.

Disc machines area little different, because the turntable acts as a flywheel and will uncoil the mainspring(s) beyond "resting," which sometimes results in the mainspring coming unhooked. For this reason, I allow disc machines to run "almost" all the way down.

George P.

[poconosteve1]

Thanks again for the advice. I'll let mine run down after use. Have a great day!!