Q: I have enclosed a photo of a very old Edison phonograph that is in good working condition. It has an oak cabinet with a hand crank. I also have about a dozen tubular phonograph records. There is a label on the cabinet that says "Edison Standard Phonograph." The records are in cardboard containers and marked with the words "Edison Gold Moulded Records — Echos All Over the World." The phonograph serial number is #6825841, and the patent date is 11-17-1903.

Can you tell me anything about my phonograph and its value?

A: You have an Edison phonograph with a Morning Glory horn. Thomas Edison made his phonographs with external horns/speakers from the late 1800s. He stopped making phonographs with external speakers around 1913. Morning Glory horns were usually 21 inches in diameter and 27 inches long. They were often decorated with flowers or to look like a morning glory flower.

Your phonograph and the records might sell in the range of $800 to $1,200.

Q: This mark is on the bottom of a silver basket that holds a red glass bowl. The bowl finish has a satin quality, and the edges are ruffled. It measures approximately 4 inches high and 10 inches in diameter. It sets in the silver-footed frame, which has an ornate handle. The inside of the bowl is decorated with hand-painted daisies.

My great aunt gave the basket to me years ago. She told me it was a bride's basket that was given to her grandmother around 1900. Unfortunately, I never asked her for any information about its history, and I don't even know what the term "bride's basket" means.

It will stay in the family and be passed on to my daughter. Can you tell something about it?

A: Based on your description, you have a Victorian silverplate bride's basket with a cranberry glass insert. Although the term "bride's basket" is used by collectors today, to Victorians they were berry baskets or fruit baskets. It was traditional in the late 1800s to the very early 1900s to present a bride with a beautiful berry basket. Most were silverplate or sterling with glass inserts. Some were just silver without inserts. The baskets were used as centerpieces to serve fruit or cake. The silverplate holder for yours was made by Pairpoint Manufacturing Co., which was in business from 1880 to 1958.

Your bride's basket would probably be worth $225 to $325.

Phonograph with Morning Glory speaker was made around 1913.

Bride's baskets were popular Victorian wedding gifts.

Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P. O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.