This version of Columbia's Commercial Graphophone dates to around 1904. The CI was an electric version of the Columbia C equipped with a Bell-Tainter motor.
Someone reconstructed the optional squeeze bulb to start and stop the machine and put a rheostat on the motor to connect to house current, but didn't damage the original motor.
It looks as if someone may have tried to clean up the front panel at one time and worked around the original decal.
The motor is working and the machine will play a regular 2 minute cylinder. There is no reproducer on this CI.
Lynn Bilton
Box 435
Randolph,OH 44265
330 325-7866
We buy, sell, and repair antique phonographs and music boxes.
Pick-up and delivery possible in many parts of the midwest,south, and northeast.
Mechanical music
for sale