The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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!

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

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 .

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

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.

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.

Does anyone know of any videos of actual working Flamephones ?

I couldn't find anything on You-tube, expect geeks blowing-up plasma balls...

There is a logical reason that you don't see any of these around - the houses that they were in burned down...