By Mike Field

For the new collector there are a bewildering number of different machines made by various makers in the heyday of cylinder phonographs and disc gramophones.  Although there may be an urge to buy everything and anything available you would be prudent to familiarize yourself with the subject, and develop a ‘feel’ for appropriate values.

  If machine collecting is going to be your thing then initially we suggest you keep to the more well known makes. For the disc machine these might be those made by the Gramophone Company (HMV) in the UK or Victor in the USA-

That is not to say that there are not very well made machines of continental Europe an make but if you do buy one make sure that it will play lateral cut records i.e. those played with a sharp needle. Pathé machines mostly play vertical cut (hill and dale) records which are not so readily available, External horn machines are probably the most desirable and therefore the most expensive but collecting portable machines is a much cheaper route and the sound quality can be very good. For those who want a cylinder machine those made by the Edison company are likely to be the most numerous and reliable. Broadly there are machines designed to play 2 minute cylinders and later machines designed to play 2 and 4 minute cylinders.

 There is not enough space to enumerate all the checks that might be carried out to ensure the machine is genuine and working properly. Bear in mind that a genuine machine may be up to 100 years old and should bear some evidence of age. Highly polished cabinets, chrome - like plating and fresh paintwork are not right unless of course the machine is described as "fully restored". Make sure the sound box has the same name as the machine manufacturer, insist on a demonstration and shun any machine where the winding handle is missing. The machine should play (at the very least) one side of a disc record or a complete cylinder. With cylinder machines which play both two and four minute cylinders make sure either type can be played completely. Unfortunately there are fakes offered for sale, particularly disc machines featuring a large, pretty and highly polished brass horn. Many of these may have a transfer claiming it to be a well known maker of the 1900s (e.g. HMV). A cursory glance is often sufficient to reveal shoddy cabinet and metal work. However, if buying from a dealer, insist on a descriptive receipt, which ensures that, should it be a fake, you can get your money back.  Edison cylinder machines should have a patent plate fixed to the works and have an Edison signature trademark transfer. Unless some new entrepreneur enters the market, Edison machines are unlikely to be complete fakes, but may have non-genuine parts fitted,

 If you only want a good cylinder machine to play your growing collection of cylinders, it is recommended that you buy a 2 and 4 minute machine. You could not do much better that an Edison Fireside or an Edison 2-and 4 minute Standard, Both machines should give years of very satisfactory service. For a disc machine a Gramophone Co. Senior Monarch or a later Model 7 (or the equivalent Victor model) would hard to beat but expensive. A portable machine is more readily available and much cheaper and we suggest a HMV Model 101 or 102. However there are many other satisfactory makes such a Columbia, Decca and others too numerous to mention. Membership of the Society gives you access to a wide range of literature on the subject and there is always someone who can advise you.

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