Gorgeous 1908 Columbia BE "Leader" Cylinder Phonograph Start Price USD 9.95 Current Price USD 910.00 Time Left - Bid Count 17 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, December 01, 2008 End Time Monday, December 08, 2008 Location Chapel Hill, North Carolina See more about 'Gorgeous 1908 Columbia BE "Leader" Cylinder Phonograph' Description Here's another beautiful, working cylinder phonograph that dates back to the first decade of the last century and earliest era of commercial sound recording.   Introduced in 1906, the BE "Leader" sold for $30 when new and was Columbia's answer to the Edison Home, albeit with more decorative flourishes (ie, carved cabinet corners, color stenciling and a nickled bedplate) and more mechanical bells and whistles, including a triple-spring motor and a Lyric reproducer whose stylus was actuated with a lever, alleviating the need to drop the entire carriage -- reproducer, horn and all -- onto a spinning mandrel, as was required on the Edison Home.   As you can see in the photographs, this century-old phonograph is in excellent condition throughout.  The bedplate is still beautifully nickled, with no pitting, corrosion, or other issues.  The japaned metal casting is still nice and black, with no flaking anywhere.  The oak cabinet is likewise in excellent condition -- both base and lid -- with no chips, splintered wood, dinged up corners, etc.  Mandrel is still perfectly round and perfectly nickled.  Carriage slides fluidly along the carriage rod, and the half-nut engages correctly with the feedscrew, advancing the carriage and reproducer along the length of the record with no drag or variations in speed.  Motor and gear train are in excellent condition.  Pulleys are likewise in excellent condition, with no chips, fractures or other issues.  Casting decorations show normal wear on all sides.  Crank is Edison made, ca. 1908, and exhibits some surface oxidation in areas but is overall in very good condition.   The 14" brass and black witch's hat horn is a top quality older reproduction, with a polished brass bell that literally gleams in even the softest lighting.  The oak cabinet retains its original finish and its original cabinet decals (front and back), and like the horn, it seems to radiate warmth from within.  And of course the phonograph doesn't just look great -- it works great too.  There's very little gear noise, and the motor is still strong and tight.   The reproducer works properly, as does the actuating lever.  Included with the machine is a color-covered Koenigsberg reproduction of Columbia's 1906 catalog, in which the phonographs is prominently featured.   I will double-box the phonograph and horn and pack everything carefully and properly.  I can assure you that they will show up 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.  I'll also include two nice Edison Gold-Moulded cylinders, so the phonograph will be ready to enjoy as soon as it arrives. That's about it.  Buyer prepays and includes shipping.  Paypal okay.  Place a Bid!