|
|
Post by edisonhomeboy on Sept 15, 2012 22:17:37 GMT -5
I recently got into a bit of a debate with an eBay Seller over the description he has posted for a dozen or so Edison records that he's selling. He insist that they are all "Edison Gold Moulded, 4 minute, black wax cylinders". I never heard of such a thing but I'm by no means "knowledgeable" about them beyond having bought numerous 2 minute Edisons for my Edison Home Phonograph.
Can anyone help end this debate?
|
|
|
|
Post by wagnerian on Sept 16, 2012 4:48:08 GMT -5
Hmmm - the seller seems to be getting a little confused over his terminology, but that doesn't really matter.
If the cylinders are wax and play for four minutes, then they are Amberols. It is possible they may be being sold in replacement two-minute cylinders boxes which may state "Gold Moulded" on them - hence the confusion. The sure way to know what you are getting is to ask the seller if the cylinders have ...4M - followed by the record number and then the title on their ends i.e. 4M - 162 ON A MONKEY HONEYMOON. If they don't have 4M on them then they are not wax Amberols and are more likely to be two minute cylinders.
I'm not too sure when Edison ceased to describe his two-minute cylinders as being "Gold Moulded" but I suspect it was around about the time that the four-minute Amberols were introduced in 1908.
Does that help at all?
Tim W-W
|
|
|
|
Post by edisonhomeboy on Sept 16, 2012 6:37:06 GMT -5
Thank you Tim. Yes indeed it answers my question. This particular eBay Seller was very arrogant and insistant that the records he was selling were 4 minute Edison black wax, Gold Moulded cylinders. By the way, the confusion was greatly increased by the fact that the record was photographed side-by-side with a Columbia Cylinder container.  I already did as you suggested and asked about what was imprinted at the top of the record since he had no photo of the record's top. Believe it or not this jerk wrote back and said 'I don't have to tell you what's impressed on the top of the record because I already told you what it is. OUCH!  In a nutshell, he has just one photo and it shows a 2 minute Edison cylinder record standing next to a Columbia container and is selling it as a 4 minute Edison. LOL All I wanted was to make sure the records were 2 minute and clarify that it was an Edison as the container was from a Columbia. Some people! |
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 16, 2012 6:52:39 GMT -5
Depending on the angle of the photo he took, a quick reference would be that Edison GM 2M records have a domed title end and the 4M Amberols were flat.
This doesn't hold true though of his earlier black wax 2M cylinders as they had less of radius at the top but also didn't have any info molded into the surface, rather the catalog number could be found on the side near the top as well as Edison's signature in raised relief.
Hope this helps!
Bill
|
|
|
|
Post by phonogfp on Sept 16, 2012 11:14:44 GMT -5
Regardless of what he's selling, if his responses are as you describe, I'd do business with someone else. Just imagine how helpful he might be if your cylinders arrived broken due to poor packing...!
George P.
|
|
|
|
Post by wagnerian on Sept 17, 2012 4:08:23 GMT -5
I'd agree with George and take my custom elsewhere. There are plenty more cylinders to be had on E-bay.
All the best
Tim W-W
|
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 17, 2012 15:11:40 GMT -5
+2 on what George said as well. My earlier post was more for a reference for the future when viewing ePay photos.
Bill
|
|
|
|
Post by edisonhomeboy on Sept 17, 2012 21:58:17 GMT -5
You guys are of course ALL correct. The cylinders were in AMAZING condition and starting bid was just $4.99 + reasonable s/h. The ugly exchange was all for the better anyway as I have no need for more cylinder records. I just can't help get excited when I see bright, shiney, minty ones for sale.
Again I thank all of you for your replies. Erich
|
|
|
|
Post by phonogfp on Sept 24, 2012 7:16:51 GMT -5
Be aware that a moldy black wax cylinder can be made to look bright & shiny with a soft toothbrush and some Pledge! It won't play worth a d**n, but it will look pretty...
George P.
|
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 24, 2012 15:53:53 GMT -5
One thing I've found with the 4M Amberols is that they don't seem to attract mold. They may get a bluish sheen due to the chemicals that cause efflorescence. This isn't fungus and often times will "clean off" upon playback allowing you to hear the recording w/o the annoying hiss of a moldy cylinder. This can also be found on the very late 2M Edison cylinders as they were made from the same compound as the 4M Amberols and they are just as fragile!
Bill
|
|
In a nutshell, he has just one photo and it shows a 2 minute Edison cylinder record standing next to a Columbia container and is selling it as a 4 minute Edison. LOL All I wanted was to make sure the records were 2 minute and clarify that it was an Edison as the container was from a Columbia. Some people!
