Antique Grand Busy Bee Disc 78-rpm Crank Horn Phonograph - WORKS!

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

Grand Busy Bee Disc 78-rpm Crank Horn Phonograph Description This auction is for a 78-rpm Grand Busy Bee Disc phonograph in good working condition. It was made sometime between 1906 to 1909 by Hawthorne & Sheble and distributed exclusively by the O'Neill James Comapny of Chicago. This is a unique machine with no tonearm - the reproducer fits directly on the morning glory horn and the entire horn swivels on its cast iron support arm as the needle moves across a record while it is playing. The cabinet is made of oak wood and houses the wind-up spring motor. There is an on/off lever, a speed adjustment control, and a crank for winding it up. The history behind Busy Bee phonographs is interesting and can be found by searching the internet, but basically the turntable (platter) originally came with a metal protrusion that prevented any type of record from being played except Busy Bee records which had a slot in them that the protrusion fit through. Busy Bee phonographs were sold at discount prices, but the buyer soon learned that the records were expensive and song choices were limited. Condition This phonograph is completely original except the reproducer is a modern reproduction, and the protrusion on the platter was removed by a previous owner so it can play any 78-rpm record, not just Busy Bee records. The reproducer is an excellent reproduction of the original and was purchased from the vendor currently offering them on eBay. This simply slips onto the end of the horn, which is why most originals have been lost over the years. The cabinet is entirely original, with original finish, all original hardware, and with the original instruction sheet and patent notice on the bottom. The decal on the side of the cabinet has some damage as you can see in the photo. The motor (serial number 72115) is original and runs strong, but is noisy like all of these are. I haven't done anything to clean it up, so maybe some oil or grease would help quiet it down. It still has the original drop-off type crank which is in good condition. The turntable has the original felt which has faded but otherwise is in reasonably good condition. The cast iron horn support is original with original paint. The horn is also original, with original red (laquer?) paint which has faded and accumulated some scratches over the years. And, it has the original cast iron horn support bracket. Overall, this is a nice mostly-original phonograph, over 100 years old, and still running strong. Good luck bidding! Shipping Buyer to pay calculated shipping. Local pick-up OK. Insurance Free on shipments within the United States! Sales Tax Minnesota residents must add 6.875% sales tax. Payment Payment must be received within 10 days after contact. International Buyers Please check with your country's customs office to determine what import duties, taxes, or other charges will be prior to bidding. These costs are not included in the eBay item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up – do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. Please see my 'About Me' page for more information about international sales. PLEASE NOTE Check my 3500+ feedback rating and !! e ba y Member Since October 1996 Honest, Accurate Descriptions, Expert Packing, and Fast, Efficient Shipping!! I reserve the right to cancel bids from those with hidden or negative feedback. Please contact me with any questions prior to bidding! Thanks for stopping by! read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.