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Edison Fireside Phonograph, K reproducer, Cygnet horn for sale
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Edison Fireside Phonograph, K reproducer, Cygnet horn for sale

This item has been sold. Please contact us - we may be able to find you another.

The Model A Fireside, also known as a Combination Fireside, was introduced in 1909 as a replacement for the Edison Standard. Edison later changed his mind and continued to manufacture the Standard. The Fireside, with its cute little case and robust mechanism based on the Standard, is relatively scarce and has become a collector's favorite as a relatively inexpensive way to listen to Edison cylinders.

The date of introduction coincided with Edison's release of the new 4 minute cylinders, and this machine was equipped with gearing to play both the old 2 minute and new 4 minute records. From a modern perspective, it's a little like getting two machines for the price of one.

How did it work? There's a knob on the left of the upperworks to change the gearing and switch between 2 and 4 minute. Pull out for 4 minute, push in for 2 minute.

You also need a reproducer with a stylus capable of playing each type of record. The 4 minute stylus was much finer than the two minute stylus, as Edison changed the feed from 100 to 200 threads per inch. In practical terms this means you would need a Model C 2 minute reproducer and a Model H 4 minute reproducer, or else a Model K reproducer which contained both 2 and 4 minute styli. The K reproducer had a little switch on its underside to rotate the two styli.

The K reproducer on this machine is a quality reproduction Paul Baker Model K reproducer. These were done over 30 years ago, and offer fidelity as good or better than an original. There is no appreciable wear on either stylus, and this reproducer is blasting out as loud and true as can be.

This Fireside has very nice original finish and original decal.

Mechanically, I have rebuilt the machine. I have taken everything in the motor and upperworks apart, cleaned, inspected, oiled, adjusted and put it back together. The governor shaft was polished for smooth running. The mainspring was pulled, cleaned and re-greased to keep it from sticking to itself as it unwinds, a big but important job.

Please do not confuse this machine with an as-found machine that you may see on a venue such as ebay. An unrestored machine may appear to the seller to run well, but I can tell you from years and years of experience that it will probably never run as it should. In the case of this Fireside, for example, I found quite a bit of wear on the half nut and replaced it. The machine would never be trouble free if I did not do this.

The Cygnet Number 10 horn has very decent original paint and original decal. The Cygnet is a very popular horn, and is not seen on most machines. Not only does it save some space as opposed to a horn that extends out the front of the machine, but it is acoustically superior to almost all other Edison horns. If you want to gloss the horn out a little bit more I recommend some black shoe polish but I haven't touched this, as this would be a matter of personal preference. These horns are most often discovered rusted out or repainted, so a horn in this condition is a real bonus.

The Cygnet craning is a high quality reproduction, and includes the special adjuster mechanism to control the height of the horn. The back bracket that holds the horn is original.

You can hear how nice this machine plays on the mp3, or on the youtube video embedded below. The mp3 demonstrates the machine playing in both 2 and 4 minute mode. First selection is a 4 minute Blue Amberol, Whistling Jim, sung by Ada Jones; second selection is a 2 minute black wax cylinder, The National Two Step played by the Edison Military Band.

Price includes a dozen nice Edison Blue Amberol records.

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Lynn Bilton
Box 435
Randolph,OH 44265
330 325-7866

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