RARE EARLY THOMAS EDISON CYLINDER PHONOGRAPH PLAYER

Ladies and Gentlemen . . .
Step Right Up !

+ + + + + THIS IS A 5 DAY AUCTION + + + + +

Our next item up for bid is this exceptional -

 Thomas A. Edison early STANDARD Cylinder Phonograph

with a

Model H Reproducer and The Original Top Hat Horn. 

This is the Model "A" Standard in what was known as the "New Style" cabinet.  It has a fumed oak finish so it has that notorious "green" cast.  Known to collectors as a "green machine", this phonograph is just about as good as they get.  It is one of the earliest of Edison Cylinder machines.  We believe everything on this machine is "Original" from the "H" reproducer and crank to the very nice Original Top Hat Horn.  From everything we know about this machine, which was in our family since about 1903, the Horn was purchased new with the phonograph.  This machine is in excellent condition and it plays loud and strong.  The gold lining on the bedplate is in very nice condition and almost complete.  The patent plate reads "S164675" with the last patent date of Nov. 17, 1903.   The Banner is in very nice condition with what looks like a skip or light scratch running down the "N" of EDISON to the "S" of STANDARD.  This machine is a combination 2 / 4 minute machine.  It plays both 2-minute and 4-minute cylinder records.

What is interesting this machine appears as original as it did when it was manufactured over 100 years ago.  No breakage or missing wood or damage that we can see. 

We're putting up the maximum of photos so that everyone can take a good look.   We are including one blue 4 minute cylinder in the deal. 

The phonograph will be shipped in one large box.  Our UPS store does a dynamic job of packing these machines so they will do the packing and shipping by UPS.  We always insist on watching the actual packing so that we can assure you that all parts go in the box.  Insurance will be required.

NO RESERVE.

This was owned by our Grandmother along with many other models.  She was very proud of her phonographs and had little notes in each one that we should wind them up at least once each month and then let them run down.  She said it would keep them "working right."  So the 1st of every month became "winding day".  Also written on the little notes was the name of the service man in case anything needed service.  She was a very organized old gal.  Our grandmother's family owned this machine since it was new.  We have been auctioning off these machines for a few years now.  We were recently asked if we sold the best in the beginning or if we have held the best for last.  Everyone of our Grandmother's phonographs were very unique and well cared for.  We did not split them up but kept each horn with its machine and the same for the reproducers.  They were all carefully labeled so that was easy to do. 

Please email all questions 24 hours prior to the end of the auction to allow us time to respond.  We are not experts at everything we sell and we do not pretend to be.  All items are sold as-is, as described.  We work hard to disclose any known flaws or imperfections when the item is listed.  Please be sure to study the photos and ask all questions before bidding.  All sales are final.

Buyer pays for packing, shipping and insurance. Upon shipment we are no longer responsible for loss or damage to the listed item.  We are very careful with our packaging, but should you need to make a claim against the carrier, we will assist you, if possible.  Insurance is required on this item.

ALL BIDDERS:

YOU MUST HAVE A FEEDBACK RATING OF 10 OR MORE with no recent negative hits.  If your feedback is less than 10, we will only ship this item if you pay by BANK WIRE TRANSFER.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

UNITED STATES BIDDERS: 

We accept PayPal and Bank Wire Transfers.  PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY US WITHIN 5 DAYS OF AUCTION END.

WE DO NOT ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS.  We do not have any way of taking CREDIT CARDS outside of PayPal.  WE WILL ONLY SHIP TO VERIFIED CONFIRMED ADDRESSES.  Please don't bid if your relationship with PayPal will not allow that.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS:                                                                                               

Unfortunately, we will not take offers on this item from International Bidders, due to the weight and box size shipping restrictions in many of the foreign countries.  We don't make the rules, so we can't change them.  If we receive any bids from international bidders, we will attempt to immediately cancel the bid.  If a bid comes in at the end of the auction, we will not sell to that bidder but offer it to the next highest bidder at their bid price.  We're sorry but it is now our policy to limit sales on these large, heavy, bulky and valuable antique items to North America buyers only.  Sorry.                                                                                                                                

In addition, since ebay has changed the feedback rules for Buyers we have noticed an increasing number of buyers thinking that they can change the rules, regarding returns, shipping and a number of other guidelines that most sellers follow.  Please don't bid with that in mind.  WE DO NOT SELL AND SHIP THESE ITEMS SO THAT YOU CAN INSPECT AND THEN SEE IF IT LOOKS GOOD ON YOUR MANTLE.  DO NOT TRY THAT.  IT JUST WON'T WORK.  YOU CAN THREATEN NEGATIVE FEEDBACK.  YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR WAY.  LOOK AT THE PHOTOS CAREFULLY AND BE SURE WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR BID.  WE WILL NOT HOLD OFF ON SHIPPING UNTIL NEXT MONTH WHEN YOU GET YOUR PENSION CHECK.  WE EXPECT PROMPT PAYMENT AND WE WILL SHIP IN A TIMELY MANNER.  AND PLEASE DON'T ASK US TO DISMANTLE THIS MACHINE AND TAKE IT APART SO THAT IT WILL SHIP EASIER.  THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.  AND AGAIN. . . THIS SALE IS FINAL.  NO RETURNS

Thanx for bidding and GOOD LUCK !

THIS IS A RELISTING THAT WAS SOLD ABOUT ONE WEEK AGO

The winning bidder could not properly pay and did not have a confirmed address with paypal.  The winning bid was cancelled.  Any additional bids from this individual are now blocked and not accepted.  If you are the winning bidder of one or our items, you must promptly pay and we will promptly ship.  We are not going to hold it until next month to allow you to return from your vacation.  We will follow the guidelines set by ebay and paypal for the sale of this item.  Please, no exceptions.  Also, please remember this is an antique phonograph approximately 105 years old.  This is a FINAL SALE WITH NO RETURNS.  LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS.  WE TRY TO SHOW EVERYTHING SO THAT YOU ARE CONFIDENT WITH YOUR BID AND PURCHASE.

To all the collectors both seasoned and new, we are also collectors of a sort.  Our grandmothers family, was extremely musical and all played many instruments.  Their love of music and talking machines became evident when our grandmother devoted a significant area of her 6000 square foot home to the Talking Machines.  This area measured 25 X 35 Feet and housed only the phonographs on built in tables and shelves around the entire perimeter of the room.  With the outside horn machines mixed with the Amberolas and Victrolas on two levels, totalling over 400, it was quite a site and truly breathtaking.  Our Grandmother referred to this as the Parlor and as children we would spend hours listening to all of Grandmother's collection and learning everything that Grandmother wanted to tell us about them.  I can recall this Green Machine as far back as I can remember and I am 65 years old.  I was given my first console Victrola when I was 16 years old.  I continued to add to my somewhat limited but very high-end collection over the years.  Every one of my personal machines are very rare and will never be for sale.

When Grandmother passed away in 1980, I was responsible for her estate.  A home of that size filled with her collectible vintage "stuff" took an enormous amount of time to carefully sort through.  Had my family not had knowledge of the phonographs would have made it impossible.  However, Grandmother was an excellent teacher and we are quite "in tune" with the phonographs.  Add to that my grandmother's notes and we were well informed. 

My siblings and I selected a limited number of phonographs each, and have been placing the remainder with other collectors, both old and new, ever since.  Grandmother had requested that we never allow an estate sale with "strangers stomping through her home doing damage and stealing everything in sight", or so she said.  We sell or trade between 2 and 5 usually twice each year.  We are getting near the end of this fascinating journey.

We do not think we know absolutely everything about the machines.  Over the years we have occasionally run into something that stumped even us.  When that has happened, we would contact our old friends at MAPS or we would pack up the item(s) and take it to the Union, IL show in June each year.  We live only 20 minutes from Union. 

This machine has never been questionable to us.  Grandmother's family bought it approximately in 1903.  Any phonograph owned by any member of her family, eventually became her phonograph.  Grandmother's notes on this machine read

 "Bought by Maddy for mother.  Earliest of the Banner Standard Edisons, Ammonia fumed finish (that's why it looks green but its getting less green as the years go by, Thank God !)  This is the original horn.  H  needle head is original.  Probably not museum quality but you might talk anyway because its so early.  Look around for a new front decal if you need to.  Ask Johnson, he says he can get it", so said Grandmother. 

We're not sure we would consider this museum quality either, with the slight damage to the banner, but grading is very much a matter of taste and opinion.  This is still a very collectable machine.

If you have a question, please don't hesitate to ask.  Sometimes our listings may have a misprint but be assured we are not intentionally trying to mislead the listings on these machines.  We have a decent feedback and a 10 year reputation.

One thing that we have forgotten to mention in any of our current listings: none of our phonographs have an unusual odor.  They have never been in a garage or basement and we don't smoke so THEY DON'T STINK!

One more issue:  We have been receiving emails with requests to email photos or more information about our machines.  If someone is questioning something, we feel we have neglected to explain properly and perhaps more of you are not clear.  So if you want more photos or info, we will put it up on the listing for all to see.  We like a level playing field and want to be fair to all.  If you have any questions, then please make your request early so that we can respond earlier than 24 hours before the end of the auction.

Thanx for the tremendous interest in our phonographs.  We are always surprised at how everyone seems to get so excited about them.  We still do, too.

Thank you and Good Luck!