Edison Gem Cylinder Phonograph * Excellent Condition Start Price USD 9.95 Current Price USD 810.00 Time Left - Bid Count 24 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 27, 2008 End Time Monday, September 01, 2008 Location Chapel Hill, North Carolina See more about 'Edison Gem Cylinder Phonograph * Excellent Condition' Description Summer may be over, but if you collect early musical or technical antiques, the fun has just begun.  This is one of four special 5-day auctions I'm running this week, all of them ending on Sunday night.  Each auction features a collector-quality musical or technical antique dating to the infancy of its genre.  If your interest leans toward early phonographs (disc or cylinder), early tube radios, or early wireless gear, you might want to keep an eye on these listings, as they won't be around for long. Here's a beautiful, perfectly working Edison Gem cylinder phonograph.  The smallest cylinder machine manufactured by Edison, the Gem was (and still is) the most endearing phonograph in the line-up.  About half the size and weight of an Edison Standard, the Gem's small footprint belies its ability to reproduce cylinder records with volume and clarity.  Music played on these compact phonographs sounds great, and despite its relatively small single-spring motor, this particular Gem is able to play two records with a single winding -- not bad for any 105-year-old cylinder phonograph, but for a Gem it's a feat that's almost unheard of. As you can see in the photographs, this Gem is in excellent condition throughout.  The enamel is original and deep black, with no flaking, no touch-ups and no hidden rust working its way through to the surface.  The nickeled parts are rust free, with a beautiful original patina, and the mandrel is not off center, dented or otherwise compromised.  The fragile gold pinstriping is original and in much better shape than you typically find on a Gem.  There's some wear around the periphery, as you can see, but the two most important details -- the Gem logo on the front and the Edison signature on the top of the casting -- are still "bold gold" and quite prominent.  The lid is in outstanding condition, with its original finish still satiny smooth, no damaged corners, no peeling veneer, no open glue joints, no repairs or touch-ups -- about as beautiful a lid as you're likely to find on a Gem.  The cabinet decal is of course original and is likewise in outstanding condition.  The crank is original and rust free, as are the two knurled screws that secure the lid to the base.  The base is in excellent condition, with no chips, gouges or other damage and no age lines along the grain.  The reproducer is original and sounds great.  This is a mid-period "C' reproducer, with a copper diaphragm, and it's loud without being shrill.  The only replacement part on the entire machine is the cone horn, a near-exact reproduction of the original and one that's in super shape.  In summary, this a "gem" of a Gem, and you will enjoy looking at it as much as you enjoy listening to it.   I'll include a gold-moulded cylinder with the machine, so you even if you don't have any other cylinders, you can play the phonograph as soon as it arrives. I will double-box the phonograph and pack it carefully and properly, and I can assure you that it will arrive at your doorstep in the same fine condition in which it leaves mine.  I have been shipping antique phonographs and radios for years, and if you check my feedback, you'll see that I know how to do it correctly.   If you're not already familiar with how to operate an early cylinder phonograph, don't worry.  I'll provide you with simple, easy to understand set-up instructions, so you'll be able to use this wonderful machine within minutes after you unpack it. That's about it.  Buyer prepays and covers shipping costs.  Paypal okay. On Aug-29-08 at 04:07:09 PDT, seller added the following information:Despite what is indicated in the "shipping information" field at the top of the listing, this phonograph CAN be shipped outside the US.  If you live outside the United States and are interested in bidding, you will need to contact me in advance so that I can prevent the Ebay system from blocking your bid. Place a Bid!