1901 Columbia Top Wind Model "AJ" Graphophone Playing 1901 Zonophone Phonograph Record

[tertommy]

way cool, if or when civilization goes down the tubes we can still use these gems to listen to music. cd mp3 all electronic devices will be useless

[Moooperator]

I just bought one of these... and you are right, they do struggle to regulate the correct speed. NICE!

[MusicBoxBoy]

@Moooperator Thanks Moo! Good to hear you found one of these!

[victrolaman]

What a fantastic piece of recorded sound history, both the wonderful Columbia AJ( the only top wind Disc Graphophone made by Columbia, as well as that beautiful E condition early etched Zonophone Record. Thanks so much for posting, I just love this early stuff.

Victrolaman

[MusicBoxBoy]

@victrolaman You are most welcome, Victrolaman. Always great to see a comment from you. I continue to enjoy the great videos posted on your channel and hope that you'll stop in for another visit soon.

[gmmix]

What a great slide of the past! Thanks for this video. Good commentary, too.

[NataliaLC1]

Great! I didnt know how it worked!! thank you!

[MusicBoxBoy]

@NataliaLC1 Glad to hear you enjoyed this Natalia! Stop back again soon!

[vttv01]

You're wlcome:)

And really these old gramophone especially the top wind models have some kind of soul, or how can I say it.... Your collection is simply amazing.

(Sorry for the bad english I'm hungarian)

[vttv01]

Very nice Gram-O-phone:)

And for it's age it really sounds great!

Thanks for this video, I've enjoyed it very much!

[MusicBoxBoy]

@vttv01 - Thanks for the nice comments. Glad you enjoyed it.

[Interests2009]

Very nice.

I have always wondered what record players from that time period were like.

Thanks for sharing.

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thanks for your comments. Good to hear that you enjoyed this. The old music machines are truly wonderful inventions.

[Interests2009]

@MusicBoxBoy--You're welcome. Someday, I hope to be the owner of a vintage phonograph. Those things are definitely built to last.

[Fotopro]

This crank looks like a reproduction to replace the hard to find removable short crank. (crank had to be removed or the horn and reproducer would hit it while playing the record). This was considered a design flaw by the first people to purchase these in 1901. in 1903 Columbia released the side crank model which also allowed for a larger record.

[MusicBoxBoy]

The crank in the video is indeed a specially desiged Columbia crank that I ordered so that it could revolve during play as it should. I do have the original shorter shank crank that came with it. When it is displayed in my collection the original one is mounted on it.

[LordMgls]

How much does one of these worth?

[Interests2009]

@LordMgls--I have no idea of what they are worth. I have seen them for sale in antique shops, and they ask anywhere from $250+ for one of these. I think it's well worth the money.

[MusicBoxBoy]

I paid $1600 for this machine a long time ago and I was thrilled to buy it at that price as this model, being very early and having a short production run, is very difficult to find.

[Interests2009]

@MusicBoxBoy--With something like this I bet it's hard to find. This is the first time I have ever seen something like this (with the crank directly on the record label.) I am so used to seeing it on the side. Nonetheless, I'll have that in mind as I look. Keep up the good work.

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thanks for the nice comments, Interests2009.

[Interests2009]

@MusicBoxBoy--You're welcome.

[transformingArt]

Surprising, the motor on this machine has very little noise - I have worked at a Phonograph museum and have dealed with lots of similar early Columbia machines, but this works much better than other. By the way, is the record itself has a speed pitch flaw? It doesn't look like there are some problems with the motor.

Oh, anyway, thanks for posting.

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thank you for the nice comments, TransformingArt. I don't believe the Zonophone record is the cause of the inconsistent speed near the end. I believe the motor spring is unwinding itself in the barrel unevenly at times. I never know either as sometimes a record will play nearly perfectly. Seems the inconsistent speed can appear on an inconsistent basis : ). Thanks again for stopping in.

[RCALennon]

Wow very interesting player I've never seen one quite like this. The unwinding crank is a neat touch. Thanks for posting this!

[MusicBoxBoy]

You are very welcome!

[dewey70]

What a neat machine. I love how the crank unwinds as it plays.

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thanks. I've always enjoyed the few very early machines with the top wind crank. Just by looking at them they immediately take you back to the era when horses were the primary means of getting around. What a great time it must have been.

[themfromspace]

Beautiful!

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thanks!

[zjsprout]

Well-done presentation of such a rare machine, and Thank You again! I have been told that I smile from beginning to end of your videos!

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thank you for your wonderful comments, zjsprout. I'm pleased that my videos can provide some enjoyment for you! Stop back anytime.

[EdisonSquirrel]

Fascinating machine! I've never seen one with the crank on top.

[MusicBoxBoy]

Thank you so much, Rocky. I always look forward to your interesting comments!