Damon Atchison recently enquired:

> A local antique shop has a couple of cabinet phonographs.  They
> are $400 each, and restored and working.  I believe they are Edisons.
> The cabinets look like new, the felt on the turntable is new, and
> everything is polished.
>
> I am considering buying one, as restoring one would probably be more
> hassle and cost more in the end.  What are some signs of a good machine
> and a good restoration?

First and foremost would be to verify that it is in fact a true,
vintage machine.  A few months ago, I was reading up on 78 rpm playback
devices, and chanced upon a site that disclosed some of the secrets of
execrable forgeries of vintage phonographs.

These machines start off as the guts stripped from junked el-cheapo
wind-up portables, which are then dolled up with wooden cabinets,
and fitted with whatever tone arms, reproducers, and horns that are
lying about, or can be cobbled together on the cheap.

Many of these abominations originate in India, partly because of the
cheap labour there, but probably primarily because large quantities
of cheap junky wind-ups are still available.

I have lost track of the URL for the site, but I can't forget the
descriptive term used for these vile devices: "the crap-o-phone".
Search on that and I'm sure you'll find it.

Cheers,

Colin Hinz
Toronto, Ontario, Canada