Edison Fireside, Restored, With Unusual Red Horn for sale

The Edison Fireside Phonograph was introduced in July, 1909. It's a bit scarcer than some other Edison models, and offers an attractive, compact, reliable mechanism to play cylinder records. The motor and some other components were based on the tried-and-true Edison Standard.

There are only two versions of the Fireside, Models A and B. This is the first version, the Model A, and is the only version to offer combination gearing to play both 2 and 4 minute records.

This Fireside has been mechanically restored. I have totally taken apart both the upperworks and the motor, cleaned, inspected, adjusted, lubricated, and reassembled it all. The governor has been polished for smooth running, governor weights checked for integrity, tensioner freed, mainspring pulled and re-greased, and the machine re-belted. This is a big job, but necessary to remove over 100 years of dirt and grease, and important to get the machine running as smooth as it was when it left the Edison factory.

Please don't compare this with a machine on a venue such as ebay, where the seller may tell you it seems to run. This machine seemed to run when we received it, but in tearing it apart we discovered and resolved and some problems with the governor assembly. Not every machine may have this particular problem, but more and more we are seeing evidence of prior inartful repairs or mechanical failure in every phonograph we encounter.

The Model A Fireside came standard with a baby red morning glory horn. The unusual red papier machine horn here, approximately 21 inches long with a 16 1/2 inch bell, would have been an aftermarket horn. It's in very nice original condition, with just some very light flaking on the outside, which highlights more strongly in the pictures than in real time. I can't tell you who made it, because I've never seen it before in over 50 years of collecting.

Cosmetically, the machine has decent original finish (this is always good) and original decal. There is somewhat more alligatoring and age darkening on the lid than on the case. For some mysterious reason, a lot of Fireside lids didn't survive, and on those that did it's not common to find them with the original lid clips, like on the lid here. The bedplate has remarkably nice pinstripeing.The crane, a reproduction very much in the spirit of the original, is adjustable for different sized horns.

This machine is playing nice and smooth, as you can hear on the mp3 or on the youtube video below. As part of the restoration, I took apart and rebuilt the reproducer; this is certainly one reason this Fireside booms out so loud and clear.

This machine comes with a 2 minute Model C reproducer and five nice 2 minute Edison cylinders. It also has the gearing to play 4 minute records; there's a knurled knob to the left of the upper gear cover to switch it into 4 minute mode. If you have a lot of 4 minute records, you can always purchase a Model H 4 minute reproducer and this machine will do double duty for you.

A lot to like in a small package.

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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.