Exactly correct - and a far better way of describing the meaning and experience of the beast than my original words on the topic.
Upon re-reading my earlier note, written while jostling along on public transportation, I see that I came off as rather brusque in my assessment of the thing. What I meant to say was that these things are not for casual collectors and are bigger and heavier, while not being very visually attractive, than most folks would enjoy. So especially considering the prices they seem to be commanding, it may not be worth the pursuit for a lot of collectors. I was just trying to share my own experience with an army/navy dd, which wasn't unpleasant financially, but otherwise not very worthwhile at all. On May 27, 2011, at 12:45 PM, bruce78...@comcast.net wrote: > Ugly and clunkyness of the A & N, was part of the beauty of the History of > it. It was never intended to be put on display in your living room (Quite a > frightening thought), but rather designed to be rugged, and dependable and > useful for the boys in the battlefield to lug it around and play records > around the campfire. Edison designed it for one purpose in mind. and that was > doing his patriotic best, to design a machine that would be functional and > hold up under unusual conditions and circumstances. If you are not into the > colorful history of Edison, World War I, and the Edison A&N, it would be a > certain mistake to buy one . I gave a lecture about a month ago at a Local > Historical Society, on Edison's Phonographs and Diamond Disc Records, and > took along my Edison Army Navy Machine, I set up early and kept it covered > until the final selection of the evening, which was Let us not forget played > on the Edison Army Navy Machine. I told the story of the creation of the > Edison A & N > machine and the Let Us Not Forget Record, and then unveiled the machine. The > crowd of History buffs were absolutely fascinated by it and ran up to take > digitals as it played LUNF . Sharing that machine and record and the history > behind both of them with this highly receptive crowd will always be one of > the highlights from my years of collecting. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peter Fraser" < pjfraser @mac.com> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@ oldcrank .org> > Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 2:27:19 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison Army & Navy > > I had one and sold it for three times what I paid. Couldn't wait to get rid > of it. Ugly and clunky and huge and ungainly and heavy, and useful only to > completist collectors and WWI fans. > > Sent from my iPhone > > -- Peter > pjfraser @mac.com > > On May 27, 2011, at 9:53 AM, William Taney <bill@ taney .com> wrote: > >> I bid on one of them too. I think I stopped at about 700 and also had the >> feeling it would be a machine that might wind up in storage and felt that >> would be a waste (what good is a machine if you don't play it occasionally) >> >> Bill >> On May 27, 2011, at 10:40 AM, bruce78...@comcast.net wrote: >> >> Makes you wonder what happened to all of the A&N machines that went over to >> the Battlefields of Europe to entertain the Troups , and what happened to >> all of them after the War was over. How many were abandoned over there and >> never brought back, and if not, what the did the respective Military units >> do with the machines that eventually found there way back to the USA ? >> >> Bruce >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Bruce Mercer" <maxbud12@ wowway .com> >> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@ oldcrank .org> >> Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 11:21:12 AM >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison Army & Navy >> >> I agree with Bill. I've seen four or five A/N on ebay in that time span. I >> remember the cheapest was 650.00, the others were right at 800.00. One was >> in very nice cosmetic condition with some paperwork. I almost bid on it >> myself it was so nice, then came to my senses about 'where' I would put it. >> Check religiously and one will pop up. >> Bruce >> >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Bill Taney" <bill@ taney .com> >> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@ oldcrank .org> >> Cc: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@ oldcrank .org> >> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 10:57 PM >> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison Army & Navy >> >> >>> I have seen 4 up for sale in the last 2 years on eBay. They seem to be >>> worth about 800 bucks. >>> Bill >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On May 26, 2011, at 8:47 AM, ny victrolaman < victrolaman @ gmail .com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks. I've read the Frow book many times, but I was hoping for >>>> something >>>> more recent and maybe crowd-sourced. >>>> >>>> How about the second half of my inquiry: How difficult would it be to >>>> find >>>> one today in fairly good condition, and how much should such an example >>>> command in today's market? >>>> >>>> On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 8:11 AM, Philip Carli < >>>> Philip_ Carli @ pittsford . monroe . edu > wrote: >>>> >>>>> Check the Frow book -- he certainly gives production history for the >>>>> model. >>>>> PC >>>>> ________________________________________ >>>>> From: phono-l-bounces@ oldcrank .org [phono-l-bounces@ oldcrank .org] On >>>>> Behalf Of bruce78...@comcast.net [bruce78...@comcast.net] >>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 6:55 AM >>>>> To: Antique Phonograph List >>>>> Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Edison Army & Navy >>>>> >>>>> I am not sure whether those statistics exist anywhere. If anyone would >>>>> know >>>>> it would be Author and Edison Historian and expert Ron Dethlefson or >>>>> possibly the curator of the Edison Historic Site. I have an original >>>>> Army & >>>>> Navy, and it has serial number 2934, which is one of the highest serial >>>>> numbers I have encountered for A&N Edison phonographs. How many still >>>>> exist >>>>> ? I could wager a wild guess and say, maybe less then 100 ? again, just >>>>> a >>>>> guess. I am not sure what % survival estimates, phonograph historians >>>>> place >>>>> on models where the actual production output is known. >>>>> >>>>> Bruce >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: " ny victrolaman " < victrolaman @ gmail .com> >>>>> To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l@ oldcrank .org> >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 10:33:07 PM >>>>> Subject: [Phono-L] Edison Army & Navy >>>>> >>>>> Does anyone have any idea how many Edison Army & Navy phonographs were >>>>> made >>>>> during World War I, and how many might still exist? How hard would it be >>>>> to >>>>> find one in good (preferably original) condition, and what should one >>>>> expect >>>>> to pay for one? >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Phono-L mailing list >>>>> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Phono-L mailing list >>>>> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >>>>> >>>>> This email message and any attachments may contain confidential >>>>> information. If you are not the intended recipient, you are prohibited >>>>> from >>>>> using the information in any way, including but not limited to >>>>> disclosure >>>>> of, copying, forwarding or acting in reliance on the contents. If you >>>>> have >>>>> received this email by error, please immediately notify me by return >>>>> email >>>>> and delete it from your email system. Thank you. >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Phono-L mailing list >>>>> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Phono-L mailing list >>>> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Phono-L mailing list >>> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Phono-L mailing list >> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >> _______________________________________________ >> Phono-L mailing list >> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Phono-L mailing list >> http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http ://phono-l. oldcrank .org > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org -- Peter pjfra...@mac.com _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
