phonogfp wrote:Thanks for that information, Fran. It's obvious that full-size (e.g. for Edison or Columbia machines) phonograph horns could have been lithographed, but I'm not convinced that this was ever done. The quoted article cites less expense when using artists, so I can only reiterate:
The Tea Tray Company and the Standard Metal Manufacturing Company (as well as smaller competitors) made extensive use of artists. Tea Tray in particular mocked Hawthorne & Sheble's use of applied floral decoration. But just imagine the fabulous designs that lithographed horns could have displayed! If the wood-grained Edison Cygnets were lithographed, why would the process have been limited only to wood grain?
George P.
Because the process was only really perfected in about 1908, and in America about 1910. By that time floral horns were pretty well passé. I dissassembled a damaged 11 panel bell some years ago, and noticed that the figure of the grain was folded under in the seams.
Note that the TTC was by 1910 a heavy user of lithography, the lithographed decoration having by then almost entirely displaced hand decoration in the firm's domestic and commercial wears. Their lighting fixture line was largely of brass and copper, but they did offer mahogany and oak grained metal reflectors, fixtures, and raceway products, Most of which were sold under the "Harvey Hubbell" trademark, Hubbell having purchased a substantial interest in the firm in 1907.
The firm also offered grained cabinets for their line of building fire extinguishers.
The National Metal Stamping Company was offering fabrication and lithography services in the late 'teens. Note that "The Newark Tea Tray Company" changed its name to "The National Metal Stamping Company" in April of 1912.