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FOR 1927 EDISONIC
BEETHOVEN DIAMOND DISC PHONOGRAPH |
PICTURES WILL TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO LOAD!
This Web Site is hosted
for Carsten Fischer.
The machine is located in
Pls contact me at sanfranphono “at” sbcglobal “dot” net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k5X_R5Xmd4
Watch
this YouTube Video of the Machine playing a great 1923 rendition of Yes! We
have no Bananas.
Production History
of this Model
1925 was a watershed
moment in the recording industry: The introduction of electric Victrola records and new Orthophonic
Victrolas provided louder bass and volume, and an
increased overall fidelity.
Thomas Alva Edison considered electric recordings inferior to his acoustic
Diamond Disc process, and dismissed louder volume as the passing fad of a
misguided public. Nevertheless, in March 1926 a new Dance Reproducer was
offered with increased volume and a somewhat strident tone.
Finally, in July 1927 the first electrically recorded Diamond Discs were
offered.
The absence of a suitable player for these new electric records was a serious
problem: T A Edison’s son, Theodore Edison, supervised the development of a new
reproducer and phonograph line was designed in imitation of the superb sound
quality of the Orthophonic
Victrolas.
The new line of EDISONIC Reproducers and phonographs
was optimized for the wider frequency range of electric records, but they also
greatly improved the sound of the often excellently recorded older acoustic
discs.
George Frow states in his book on the Edison Phonograph: “The acoustic Edisonics
were the Edison answer to the Orthophonic Victrola, the enlarged tone chamber and spring loaded
reproducer providing a greater volume output.”
Technically, the
differences of the Edisonic reproducer vs. the
Standard Reproducer are an enlarged floating weight, a modified diaphragm, a
metal thread stiffened silk chord and a counteracting spring above the stylus
head.
The Edisonic’s impressive bass and a wider tonal
range make it the best sounding Edison Diamond
Disc reproducer. The Edisonic phonograph has an
enlarged horn for better bass response. It is the largest horn used in any DD
phonograph. Other subtle details, like the large grille and patterned grille
cloth, spring loaded lids and the use of expensive figured veneers brings
design of the Edisonic in line with the fine Victrolas of the late 1920s. These were also the first Edison Phonographs to have doors over the horn openings.
Introduced with great
fanfare at the Chicago National Music’s Dealer
convention in September 1927, the Edisonic Diamond
Disc Phonographs were the technically most advanced of the Edison
machines. However, even these last flagship models of Edison production could
not prevent the further decline of Edison
sales, and over the short, 18 months production run, only a small number of
machines was sold. Edisonic phonographs nowadays are
some of the rarest Edison models to be found.
The 1927 Edisonic line-up comprised two models:
The small Edisonic Schubert was a stripped-down entry model for
$135.50. In a rather plain cabinet, it had a small one-spring motor and storage
space for only 20 records.
The Schubert model seems to have been the more successful of the models, as
examples turn up on occasion.
The Edisonic
Beethoven was the top-of-the-line phonograph for $225. The strong two spring
motor, storage space for 60 records and a large horn were housed in an
exquisite cabinet with bookmatched figured mahogany
veneer fronts. The two part lid is spring supported. The intricately shaped
grille is backed by a patterned cloth. Total production is estimated at only
1,500 examples. Nowadays the Beethoven is a rare machine, significantly rarer
than the Schubert. I am aware of only 8 Beethovens in
the hands of collectors.
Edisonic Beethoven
Measurements: 39 3/8” x
24 /18” x 21”
Weight approx. 150 lbs.
Cabinet is made from
mahogany with highly figured book matched door panels. Satin fish in
reddish-brown mahogany. Cabinet is a post and rail construction with veneered
solid wood panels. Two flap top with spring support opens over record and
player compartments. Four turned solid mahogany legs with stretchers. Doors
open on hinges, raised bead at the edges, mitred,
inlaid 2” border and bookmatched raised central
panel,
Intricate speaker grille with patterned silk or rayon backing. All hardware is
gun metal finish with decorative wipe effects.
Record storage for 60 records with red leatherette dividers. Number strips
1-30, 31-60, number strip in bottom compartment has a red velvet lining.
“The Edisonic” decal on the back of the player
compartment.
Improved NEW EDISON DISC MOTOR 2-spring with shock-proof governor. Black
japanned bedplate with T A Edison decal.
Levers and winding key gun metal plated, handles black painted wood. 12”
turntable with orange felt. Rim gun-metal plated. Special, large Edisonic horn, black japanned with upper part gun metal
plated. Edisonic reproducer in gun-metal finish with
wipe effects.
1927 EDISONIC BEETHOVEN
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k5X_R5Xmd4
Watch
this YouTube Video of the Machine playing a great 1923 rendition of Yes! We
have no Bananas
I have
owned this machine for 3 years, and enjoyed and played it extensively. I have
always kept the machine in the best possible condition.
Condition
Machine is in great condition with no hidden flaws. It
looks great and the sound is amazing: Plating on metal parts is exceptionally
nice, grille cloth original, decals and felt original and undamaged. Motor
works great and has been serviced. Reproducer is in exceptional shape: When I
got the machine, the floating weight hinge was frozen, and hence the reproducer
did not play. Probably the diamond has not been played for the last 70 years.
The reproducer was expertly rebuilt.
Unfortunately, the original varnish was coming off in large flakes on the
outside. While I was able to save the original stain, the outside was finished
in a correct closed grain high-grade satin finish.
Some details worth mentioning:
The plating on all parts is great. The metal parts are
original and have not been cleaned. The two-tone gun-metal finish is a dark
grey-silver finish with rubbed patterns that expose the underlying, dull brass.
The stripes and edges you see on the reproducer are not from wear, but are part
of the factory pattering. Some parts have a mild pitting, meaning small darker
spots, somewhat more pronounced on the crank. They do not distract from the
beauty of the plating. No occurrences of rust or corrosion.
Turntable rim is exceptional, orange felt is in great clean shape with no
damage - a light shadow around the spindle hole.
Bedplate black japanning is absolutely great with clean decal, with only a
small rubbed through spot under the start lever. Oiling marks written on the
bedplate with gold paint.
Motor runs strongly and quietly without jerking. Mechanism is very clean and
has been lubricated.
The horn was tested for air-tightness, and a tiny leak at one of the bottom seams
was closed with caulk. An added gasket in the reproducer joint ensures absolute
air-tightness.
Grille cloth is original and in superb shape. Grille is great and undamaged
with only a few lightly rough spots on the finish. The bottom lower right
corner has a small veneer defect, which not visible because it is hidden behind
the door. All divider and number strips are great with only a few faintest
spots on the number strips.
As explained above, the reproducer diamond probably had only very little use. I
have checked the diamond under the microscope and performed wear tests, and it
is in excellent shape.
The reproducer has been expertly rebuilt.
The following tasks were performed:
- Original cork gaskets replaced with new flexible neoprene gaskets.
I have saved the original cork gaskets
and will include them.
- The special Edisonic Diaphragm, which had sagged,
was shaped back to its original shape.
- Loose edges on the cork cone were re-attached with shellac.
- Air gaps at the central silk chord mounting were sealed with shellac for full
volume.
- Soundbox was tuned following Edison
instructions by adjusting the tightness of the retainer ring.
Soundbox performs
loudly with a full sound and no distortions. The original plating is great,
with some tiny pitting. The black painted hinge block in the back has lost most
of the black paint.
The leg/ stretchers are complete with no parts missing.
The door pulls may be a later replacement.
The interior finish is of great original condition.
Inside of the record compartment door has slight dings from records hitting the
door (probably during moving). Panels surrounding the upper record area have a
couple of short scratches.
Exterior needed to be refinished due to flaking original varnish. The correct
closed grain finish was achieved with a high grade-professional satin finish.
Finish is smooth without drips or runs. Satin finish comes very close to the
original look without appearing too new or “shellacked.”
In Conclusion
The rare Edisonic Beethoven is
the last and greatest Diamond Disc Phonograph ever produced by Edison . It does miracles to the sound of any acoustic
Diamond Disc, and excels with the electric records. Once you heard it, you
don’t want to go back to your regular Laboratory Model!
Its superb cabinetry and side-by-side configuration makes it a welcome relief from
the usually square and somber looking Edison
Phonographs.
You really have to hear and see it!
You will certainly evaluate this machine against other
examples. As far as I recollect, the only Beethoven ever offered on the open
market was sold in 1998 at Sotheby’s, London
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I have seen a couple of Edisonic Schuberts sell at shows
in the $800 – 1000 range, even with problematic finishes. As good as the
Schubert can sound, it is the cheaper entry model: The looks are somewhat
plain, and its one-spring motor does not provide quite the power and duration
of the Beethoven’s 2 spring motor.
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The most important part of any Edisonic model is the Edisonic
Reproducer. Many parts of the Edisonic are special to
that model, and cannot be replaced with standard parts. The diaphragm is a
special, reinforced design, and uses a silk chord stiffened with metal threads.
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The stylus to the Edisonic
is unique as it hooks into a counterbalance spring, Modern replacement styli
will not permit the use of the spring.
Again, this machine is for sale in San Francisco
Contact me at sanfranphono
“at” sbcglobal “dot” net.
Based on my experiences of internet transactions, I think
that it is advisable if you can come by to check out the machine yourself, or
have a friend in the area check it out for you. I think the machine is well
represented in the photos, but looks even better in person.
With regard to shipping, I will leave it to the buyer to
make the necessary arrangements. For moves within California
So, check out some more movies that I have put on YouTube
here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/sanfranphono
And some more machines for sale:
http://myvintagetv.com/Carsten%20Sales%20Ads/salelist.htm
And some more interesting
changers with videos of the changers working:
http://myvintagetv.com/updatepages1/changer%20videos/changer_videos.htm
Click on the thumbnails below for more pictures of
the Edisonic Beethoven.
For color calibration, here is the turntable in natural light.
The orange is the same as of the Credenza felt.
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