Edison Gold Moulded era cylinder boxes

[52089]

Following up on the Brown Wax cylinder box thread, I thought I'd post info on the later Edison cylinder boxes. Two abbreviations to simplify things: GM = Gold Moulded, LPD = last patent date.

Allan Koenigsberg's "Edison Cylinder Records 1889-1912" is the major source for this info, but the photos are from my collection.

(As background, Koenigsberg identifies 5 labels in use before the first GM label as follows:
A: No patent dates, no Edison photo
B: Edison photo (which appears on all boxes going forward), no patent dates
C: LPD Sept. 11, 1901
D: LPD Oct. 1, 1901
E: LPD Nov. 11, 1902)

The first GM box (Koenigsberg F) has LPD Nov. 21, 1902 and prices the records at 50 cents. It is similar in style to the pre-GM boxes, i.e. no lining and flat lid. Shane has posted a picture below.

Koenigsberg G also has LPD of Nov. 21, 1902, but is larger than the later, more common GM boxes. It has no fleece lining. Instead it has a cardboard core that supports the cylinder and keeps it away from the inside of the box.

Early GM box with cardboard core, type G

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Early GM box with cardboard core, type G

IM000957.JPG (65.33 KiB) Viewed 1752 times

Koenigsberg H has LPD May 23, 1905. From here on, boxes are fleece lined and have no cardboard core. Koenigsberg I has LPD Apr. 23, 1907. This box also removes "National Phonograph Co." below Edison's photo and replaces it with Edison's signature. "Echo All Over the World" is also removed on "I". Photos of H and I follow.

Common GM boxes type H and I

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Common GM boxes type H and I

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Common GM boxes type H and I

IM000961.JPG (61.28 KiB) Viewed 1752 times

On Koenigsberg J and K, the boxes now say "Edison Record" (the words "Gold Moulded" are removed) and the boes have LPD of Apr. 23, 1907 and Mar. 3, 1908 respectively:

Edison Record boxes type J and K

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Koenigsberg L has LPD June 29, 1910 and says "Edison Standard Record". These are scarce. See Shane's post below for photo.

There are of course other variations such as the Grand Opera Gold Moulded box, Edison blank box, and the various correspondence school blanks. I am also reasonably certain I have another GM box with another LPD not shown here, but at the moment I can't find it. I will post when/if I do.

Questions/comments/corrections/supplemental info are all welcome. I hope this was useful. (Post edited per Shane's comments below.)

[gramophoneshane]

Actually, the pegged box Mr. Koenigsberg has listed as the first GM box was introduced about mid 1905 if I remember correctly, and it was the second Gold Moulded box that Edison used.

The first box is pictured below. This box uses Form No.450 May 10, 1903, (as on the previous label without "Gold Moulded") with the last patent date of Nov 18, 1902.

And here's an example of the last 2M GM box used- Edison Standard Record,LPD June 28, 1910.

[52089]

Thanks, Shane, I'll edit my post and put in pointers to your comments and photos.