Different Kinds of Phonograph Players

Edison Phonographs

• The most common Edison phonograph players are the Standard, the Home and the Gem. The Standard and Home models had a spring motor and came in a green oak or golden oak case. The original Gem phonograph had no lid and a metal drip pan. A later version came in maroon-painted wood and a wooden base.

  Two other slightly less-common phonograph players are the Edison Fireside and Triumph. The Triumph had a triple-spring motor and was in a box case. The Fireside had the same motor as the Standard phonograph because it was meant to be a replacement to the Standard. There are two models of the Fireside, A and B. Model A was a combination machine. While Model B played for a straight 4 minutes.

  The two most uncommon phonograph players by Edison are the Class M and Idealia. The Class M phonograph was wet-cell powered, while the Idealia came in a mahogany case and had copper parts.

Columbia Graphophone and Grafonola

• Columbia's most common models were the front-mount AU, AH, AJ, AK, AY, AR and BA. The AU had a 1/2-inch spindle and later was sold as a Standard X. The AH was originally made with a long, narrow horn that rested on the center of the spindle and later was redesigned with a larger horn that attached to the side of the case. The AJ originally had a vertical crank and later was redesigned with a side crank. The AK first came in a ribbed case, but was later placed in a smooth, solid case. The AY and the AR looked identical, except the AY had a double-spring motor and the AR had a triple-spring motor. The BA was never stamped as Columbia, but fell under their house brand.

  The Columbia rear-mount graphophones were the BI, BN, BNW, BY, BD, BJ, BII, BZ, BH and BNWM. With all of these graphophones the horn was mounted to the back and had a bracket to support its weight. With these models by Columbia, the biggest changes that were made between each model was the case, the color of the case or the horn that was used.

Victor or Victor Victrola Phonographs

• The Victor Victrola company made the most phonographs out of the three companies. During the entire production time of Victor Victrola there were millions made. The top-most common models are the VV-XI, VV-VI, VV-IV, VV-X floor model that had enclosed sides, VV-IX, VV 2-55, Consolette, VV 4-3, Consolette X, VE 4-3, VV-XIV, VV-210 and VV-100. There was as many as 843,000 of the VV-XI made and as few as 195,000 of the VV-100 made.

  The rarest models are the Victor A, B, C, D, Monarch Deluxe, Monarch Junior, Sheraton, Gothic and Special Models. These are extremely rare and there is no actual number on how many were made, but it is less than 250.