The Wonderphone.

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
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Orchorsol
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Re: The Wonderphone.

Post by Orchorsol »

poodling around wrote:
Orchorsol wrote:I do remember seeing one of these horns on UK eBay a few years ago in poor condition. IIRC it was discussed here on the forum, and a few people felt it was some kind of covered wickerwork, but someone disproved that - only a vague memory though!

Oh, the link is mentioned 'above' I think.

It is a shame, because the above link to the pdf issue of Wireless Magazine states (next to a picture of the horn) : 'T h e Wonderphone, which was fully des- cribed on page 383 of the previous issue' - but I can't find that issue on the internet.

Presumably it would clarify everything.
Oops, apologies for posting without looking at all the links! Fascinating to have found more information on this, well done - it partly confirms some of our earlier thoughts. All the more fascinating that it turns out to have been good old Captain Barnett! From the drawing in the magazine, it looks as though his idea may have been to design a much simplified version of the Balmain gramophone, i.e. with a pivot rather than linear tracking. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 11&t=16013
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poodling around
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Re: The Wonderphone.

Post by poodling around »

Orchorsol wrote:
poodling around wrote:
Orchorsol wrote:I do remember seeing one of these horns on UK eBay a few years ago in poor condition. IIRC it was discussed here on the forum, and a few people felt it was some kind of covered wickerwork, but someone disproved that - only a vague memory though!

Oh, the link is mentioned 'above' I think.

It is a shame, because the above link to the pdf issue of Wireless Magazine states (next to a picture of the horn) : 'T h e Wonderphone, which was fully des- cribed on page 383 of the previous issue' - but I can't find that issue on the internet.

Presumably it would clarify everything.
Oops, apologies for posting without looking at all the links! Fascinating to have found more information on this, well done - it partly confirms some of our earlier thoughts. All the more fascinating that it turns out to have been good old Captain Barnett! From the drawing in the magazine, it looks as though his idea may have been to design a much simplified version of the Balmain gramophone, i.e. with a pivot rather than linear tracking. http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... 11&t=16013
Thank you, everything is good.

As you say, the whole thing is fascinating.

There can't be many of these left but there are one or two more historical references I have found which 'bring it to life' a little during the 1920's.

epigramophone
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Re: The Wonderphone.

Post by epigramophone »

I had forgotten the previous thread (blame it on my advancing years) but a further search has found this rather poor image, showing that Loveless & Hunter were indeed connected with the Oxford Camera Company :
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poodling around
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Re: The Wonderphone.

Post by poodling around »

epigramophone wrote:I had forgotten the previous thread (blame it on my advancing years) but a further search has found this rather poor image, showing that Loveless & Hunter were indeed connected with the Oxford Camera Company :

How fantastic ! Well found and something more of great interest - clarifying the gramophone history past.

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