Edison Amberola 1-A factory prototype #2

The Amberola 1-A represents the first internal-horn Edison phonograph that would compete with the internal horn machines from Victor and Columbia.
Alongside its technical and aesthetic beauties, the 1-A is revered as being one of the finest sounding phonographs of the cylinder era. Research
is currently being done with the resources at the Edison Site and Rutgers University on this SPECIFIC phonograph. It has features and qualities
that will not be found on any other Amberola 1-A model, and the differences are so numerous that I have had to write this website to document them all!

For a gallery of the finished machine, click here!

This machine is a survivor. Follow the photos and details of its careful restoration on these web pages!

View a detailed photo-gallery of some of its unique and peculiar characteristics!

Article from 1909 which leads me to believe that this phonograph was demonstrated at the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in New York City Sept 28-Oct 2, 1909 for the phonograph trade.

Letter from Delos Holden (Edison's patent attorney) to Frank Dyer (President of National Phonograph Company) describing his initial inspection of the "hornless" Amberola phonograph. Holden outlines in the subsequent pages all of the design characteristics of the Amberola which *may* attract lawsuits from Victor Talking Machine Co. Suggestions are also made as to how patent infringement could be avoided.

Phonography: A Century's Retrospective. The Edison Amberola 1, "The Second Amberola"
Article for the California Phonograph Society, by George F. Paul.
Posted to this website with the permission of the author.
Page1 Page2 Page3 Page4

Article by Ron Dethlefson on the early "fish-tail"
4-minute Model-L reproducer used on this specific phongraph (serial # 1012)
Posted to this website with the permission of the author.

Details unique to this machine

Locations of the "2" serial number stampings	Triton 3-spring motor
Rear door has a key lock	special crank and escutcheon
specific fish-tail Model-L 4-minute reproducer	unique motor casting
unique gear covers only seen on factory drawings, with spring-ball oilers!	gold treatments to vents and grille
one-of-a-kind fiber horn	no ID plate
GOLD finish horn elbow (NOT OXIDIZED!)	unique motor drip pan

Please direct all inquiries to me via email: wyatt (at) edisondiamonddisc (dot) com