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Post by poconosteve1 on Feb 16, 2015 12:29:40 GMT -5
New to hobby and these machines. Impressed by the quality and care taken with these cylinder phono cases. My Standard A has a beautifully 'modelled' looking case, not just straight grain. Not rare, but the sides are like that as well leading to me to believe that the craftsmen who built these cases took the extra time to match woods and grains to be most appealing. Were these cases made in Edisons factory? Were there different prices based on how ornate the grains are? I did hear that a mahogany case was available...wondering about history of the woodworking shop. Woods sourced locally? Very nicely constructed. Thanks folks. Steve
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Post by phonogfp on Feb 16, 2015 22:08:32 GMT -5
My understanding is that the cabinets for the pre-1909 Edison cylinder Phonographs were manufactured on the factory grounds in Bldg. No.56, the "Carpenter Shop." The oak was cut "quartered," which produced vivid grain patterns. I'd be surprised if the workers were taking the time to match woods and grains on Standard or Home cabinets, but those for the Triumph seem to have striking grain more often than not. However, every so often an extraordinarily beautiful cabinet is encountered with an otherwise unremarkable Standard or Home. I suspect it was simply the luck of the draw. Mahogany cabinets were first offered as an option around 1903/04 (I'd need to check that to narrow it down further). As for where the woods came from, I have no data on that.
When Edison began offering large, floor-standing machines (the Amberola in 1909 and the Disc Phonograph in 1912), the cabinets were contracted out to a number of established furniture/woodworking factories. The earlier floor-standing cabinets housing Edison coin-operated Phonographs were built by the Jordan Company in Brooklyn. As far as I know, only the relatively small, solid-wood cabinets for the early cylinder line were built on the factory grounds.
George P.
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Post by poconosteve1 on Feb 17, 2015 7:09:14 GMT -5
Once again, thanks so much for the information. Very interesting. We often focus on the 'mechanicals' of these great machines...the cases are amazing as well. And, yes it really is something how many different patterns you see out there. Thanks for such a thorough history of the woodworking aspect of these machines!
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Post by nefaurora on Mar 24, 2015 17:25:33 GMT -5
George, I have heard that After 1909 when Edison started contracting out Wood cabinets that he had as many as (36) different Wood companies subcontracted to him to make his cabinets. I saw a list a long time ago that listed some of the companies that made cabinets for him but that was long ago. If anyone still has the list, Please post whatever you have.
Thanks, Tony K.
Edison Collector/Restorer
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Post by phonoboy on Jun 27, 2015 19:05:09 GMT -5
If I'm not mistaken Brunswick was one of the shops Edison used.
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Post by phonogfp on Jun 27, 2015 20:02:43 GMT -5
You're not mistaken. Brunswick was indeed one of Edison's cabinet suppliers, and the first Brunswick phonographs appeared in B-250 type cabinets.
George P.
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