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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 18, 2007 9:55:55 GMT -5
The sun through the window blinds just a moment ago made lovely patterns on the Opera. Quiet here this morning . . . wife out of town for the weekend, son staying with a friend. No TV on. Thought I'd share. In color and b&w . . . enjoy! Luke W.
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Post by gramophoneshane on Nov 18, 2007 11:00:09 GMT -5
Wow.. Tiger-stripe mahogany! The cabinet under the opera looks intersting. What sort is it?
BTW: I hope your taking advantage of the deathly quite house, and enjoying some tunes!
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 18, 2007 11:40:08 GMT -5
Oh yeah! I've been playing stuff all weekend. Even tuned up the oak Opera. My wife enjoys all music including old music, and 15 year-old son is very smart and thinks it is interesting and bizarre at the same time, so it's never a problem playing old records in our house. Wife has a beautiful voice and is a natural comedienne and a ham, so it's fun for me to "trigger" her by playing a catchy tune, and then listen to her go about the house singing her own fractured version of it. Her rendition of "Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee" ought to be on youtube! She is hilarious! The cabinet was purchased with the Opera when it was new at Southern California Music in Los Angeles (I am only the third owner since 1911!). I've yet to see another cabinet just like it, and I'm unsure of the manufacturer but it is high-grade furniture with hand-carved three-toed claw feet on the front legs. There are six drawers inside, each with 35 clips to hold wax Amberol/early BA-style straight-sided boxes, for a total capacity of 210. The drawers tilt down when fully withdrawn to more readily access the cylinders. The dolphin key didn't come with it, but it works the lock. The door closes with a satisfying click of the ball catch at the bottom. It is a large beast -- 27.5"w x 19"d x 38"t. Here's a couple more shots. Luke W.
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Post by gramophoneshane on Nov 18, 2007 14:11:41 GMT -5
Very nice! It must be great to know the machine & cabinet have been together for almost 100 yrs. Your lucky the seller didn't split them up, like happens all to often.
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 18, 2007 14:42:22 GMT -5
The Opera was purchased new in 1911 by a Los Angeles attorney who owned it until he passed away in 1958. When his estate was settled, no one in the family wanted it and it went to the garage of the partner in the firm who handled the estate. The gentleman I bought it from lived next door and saw the machine in the garage and purchased it. He owned it for 49 years until I bought it! I first saw it in the early 1980's and was impressed by it's condition and originality. I asked for right of first refusal if it was ever sold, and 25 years later, got the call. It has never had much chance of being split up! Here's a couple views of under the lid. Luke W.
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Post by maroongem on Nov 18, 2007 17:16:22 GMT -5
Beautiful cabinet, Luke (and the machine goes w/o saying!!. I see it has the early clips for holding the Amberol & 2M wax boxes. Those look like the ones in my Amberola 1-A. Unfortunately, my BA boxes kinda rattle around in those clips due to the boxes' smaller size.
Bill
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 18, 2007 17:33:31 GMT -5
Thanks, Bill. I know what you mean about the clips . . . I try to keep it filled with the earlier straight-sided boxes, but the few later orange BA boxes in there all tip forward when the drawers are tilted. My super-early Amberola IA (s/n 2) doesn't have any clips or even dividers . . . never had 'em . . . just plain drawers. Luke W.
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Post by rocky on Nov 18, 2007 18:56:53 GMT -5
Beautiful machine, Luke! I hope you had a great day of listening pleasure. Rocky
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 18, 2007 19:36:28 GMT -5
Thanks, Rocky . . . I did indeed. Sometimes I forget I have certain recordings and it's always fun to rediscover them. That happened more than once today! I listen to wax Amberols on the mahogany machine with it's L reproducer; and to BA's on my oak Opera with a Diamond A. I listen to 2-M's on either one of my I-A's -- typically the oddball nickel-plated mech with M reproducer that is rigged for an external horn, but it is banished by wife to the office downstairs until I find a case for it. Here's a photo of my oak Opera. Luke W.
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Post by neophone on Nov 19, 2007 1:24:33 GMT -5
Luke,
Lovely machines... and what sounds like a lovely day. I'm at the tail end of a DD evening myself and I had a most of the afternoon two days ago dedicated to my latest laterals. Nothing beats a lazy day with your recordings.
Regards, J.
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 19, 2007 3:28:51 GMT -5
Couldn't agree more . . . especially with just the right amount of the "scratch filter" of your choice added! ;D Luke W.
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Post by maroongem on Nov 19, 2007 7:49:40 GMT -5
If you mean by "scratch filter" a distilled beverage of choice, you betcha!! ;D
Bill
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 19, 2007 10:19:00 GMT -5
I'm in Kentucky, so naturally I prefer red corn liquor distilled from the local water -- Blanton's, Turkey, Maker's Gold Wax. If I mix, I like Old Crow. "What scratch? " Luke W.
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Post by rocky on Nov 19, 2007 19:42:48 GMT -5
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Post by lukewarmwater on Nov 19, 2007 20:18:17 GMT -5
Fill it with gin. I was listening to "Save A Little Dram For Me" on the Opera over the weekend. ;D Luke W.
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