The Flamephone

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
gramophone78
Victor VI
Posts: 3946
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:42 am
Location: Western Canada

Re: The Flamephone

Post by gramophone78 »

1926CredenzaOwner wrote:...and I thought the Paillard Maestrophone with the alcohol powered Stirling engine was a bad idea!

This machine, however, really gives new meaning to the term hot jazz! :lol:

I'm afraid my "hairless" forearm agrees with you..... :cry: :lol: :lol:.

Dulcetto
Victor II
Posts: 289
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:57 pm

Re: The Flamephone

Post by Dulcetto »

Hi all , well at least one example of this machine survives -- no doubt there are others out there. I saw an example at the National Vintage Communications fair at Birmingham, U.K. about 15 years ago. I do not remeber what price was being asked , but it was way above my budget at the time ! I remember it quite clearly .

User avatar
Lucius1958
Victor VI
Posts: 3935
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:17 am
Location: Where there's "hamburger ALL OVER the highway"...

Re: The Flamephone

Post by Lucius1958 »

I know I had seen that ad in Proudfoot's book, and later, when I subscribed to the Experimental Musical Instruments newsletter, they had a few articles on pyrophones - musical instruments that used a flame to generate sound.

http://sciencemuseumdiscovery.com/blogs ... yrophone1/

Now, I doubt the 'Flamephone' worked quite the same way - it doesn't show any sign of resonating tubes over the burners - but it's an interesting comparison....

Bill

phonoman-antique
Victor O
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 2:47 am

Re: The Flamephone

Post by phonoman-antique »

I did quite a few experiments with flame loudspeakers.
They do work.But mine where amplifiers driving a high voltage
spark in a flame.Its really something seeing sound coming from a flame.

User avatar
Odeon
Victor I
Posts: 192
Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 3:38 am
Personal Text: Stomp off, let´s go !
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: The Flamephone

Post by Odeon »

Image

User avatar
edisonphonoworks
Victor IV
Posts: 1566
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:50 am
Personal Text: A new blank with authentic formula and spiral core!
Contact:

Re: The Flamephone

Post by edisonphonoworks »

Here is a diagram of an Edison Class M standard speaker fitted for use with a speaking flame. The illustration in from the book Scientific American notes and queries copyright 1899.
Attachments
Class M motor detail from S.A. F.N.Q
Class M motor detail from S.A. F.N.Q
emotor.gif (143.23 KiB) Viewed 3837 times
a drawing by Poyet from 1888 from S.A
a drawing by Poyet from 1888 from S.A
edison.jpg (121.24 KiB) Viewed 3837 times
An early plate of the perfected phonograph (Edison's New Phonograph) from S.A. 1889 from my collection.
An early plate of the perfected phonograph (Edison's New Phonograph) from S.A. 1889 from my collection.
perfected.jpg (87.88 KiB) Viewed 3837 times
Standard speaker set for flame reproduction
Standard speaker set for flame reproduction
standard_speaker.gif (58.5 KiB) Viewed 3837 times

User avatar
De Soto Frank
Victor V
Posts: 2687
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:27 pm
Location: Northeast Pennsylvania

Re: The Flamephone

Post by De Soto Frank »

Does anyone know of any videos of actual working Flamephones ?

I couldn't find anything on You-tube, expect geeks blowing-up plasma balls... :shock:
De Soto Frank

User avatar
Curt A
Victor Monarch Special
Posts: 6412
Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2010 8:32 pm
Personal Text: Needle Tins are Addictive
Location: Belmont, North Carolina

Re: The Flamephone

Post by Curt A »

There is a logical reason that you don't see any of these around - the houses that they were in burned down... :)
"The phonograph† is not of any commercial value."
Thomas Alva Edison - Comment to his assistant, Samuel Insull.

"No one needs a Victrola XX, a Perfected Graphophone Type G, or whatever you call those noisy things."
My Wife

Post Reply