What's inside the box

[ejackett]

I know there was a thread on this awhile back, but I couldn't find it so I started this one. I recently bought a Standard Model A from a guy on Ebay
and I just got it on friday, when I started cleaning it up I found these two cards in the motor box, they are dated from 1906. When I bought my first
Standard model A from Tim F. I had asked him what they sold for back in the day, he told me they were scheme machines and were given away with
assorted detergents of some kind just so people would buy there records. I'm wondering if maybe this was one of the companies that they worked with?
If anyone has any infor to share it would be appreciated.
Thanks
Gene

[Jerry B.]

I bet you are correct, but I can't say for sure. I would like to learn more about how the client companies promoted their machines. Right or wrong I always assume when I read "Standard Model A" that I am reading about an Edison product. I'm splitting hairs but I think you have a Standard Type A. It's kind of like the confusion created when someone writes about a "Vic VI". Do they mean a Victrola VI or a Victor VI. Please accept this with the good intentions intended. I'll always have a soft spot for the Standard Type A. DeeDee gave me one as a wedding present in 1976. Happy collecting, Jerry Blais

[mikejk]

The decal on the case of the Chicago "Standard" disc machine does say "Standard Model A". Wouldn't it be ok to refer to it as a Model A ?
Mike

[ejackett]

Good intentions accepted Jerry, I do understand and Mike if had just said Model A, we'd be
talking Ford's...
Thanks for the comments, Jerry do you still have yours?
Gene

[Curt A]

We still could be talking Fords if we were referring to a standard "Model A", as opposed to a cabriolet, coupe, roadster or Victoria...

This is like genealogy, where every generation named their kids for the previous generations, which causes much confusion as to who is who... Edison, Victor, Columbia and Ford should have gotten together and come up with unique names for each of their machines...

ejacket,
By the way, those are interesting cards.

[phonogfp]

I recently bought a Standard Model A from a guy on Ebay
and I just got it on friday, when I started cleaning it up I found these two cards in the motor box, they are dated from 1906. When I bought my first
Standard model A from Tim F. I had asked him what they sold for back in the day, he told me they were scheme machines and were given away with
assorted detergents of some kind just so people would buy there records. I'm wondering if maybe this was one of the companies that they worked with?
If anyone has any infor to share it would be appreciated.
Thanks
Gene

In the early days of "scheme goods" talking machines, there were two methods used: 1) machines as premiums, and 2) machines as sales stimulators. Selling a certain number of packages of bluing or detergent could result in getting a talking machine as a premium. At that point, the deal was over.

Sales stimulators were the primary purpose of the O'Neill-James talking machines (Busy Bee, Yankee Prince, Aretino) and the Great Northern machines (Standard, Harmony, United, etc.) These machines were all designed to keep the customer coming back, so the deal was never over.

By the time the Standard Talking Machine Model A appeared around 1910/11, the main focus was for merchants in unrelated fields (such as clothing, furniture, jewelry, etc.) to offer the Standard "free" to customers with the purchase of a certain dollar amount of their goods. The specially designed turntable which accepted only Standard records would keep the customer coming back into the store. Thus, trade was stimulated for the regular goods offered in the store, as well as trade for the Standard records.

(The 1906 date on the Arm & Hammer Soda cards refers to the U.S. Food & Drugs Act which was passed that year. These cards could date from many years after that. In any event, it's doubtful that they have a significant relationship to the Standard or the way in which it was obtained.)

To better understand the arrangement, it's always best to consult period documentation. Here's a sampling which I hope will be helpful...

Here's a letter from the early days (1905) of Standard's sales stimulation proposition to dealers featuring the Standard AA:

Here's how one dealer spread the word of the availability of Standard machines and records at his store (note the tubular support arm in the illustration - - quite unlike the typical arms seen on a Standard X:

Here's another dealer broadside, this time offering the Standard Model A:

From our book, Antique Phonograph Advertising, here's an actual photo of a furniture dealer offering Standard Model As in the store. Note the text above as well:

From "Antique Phonograph Advertising" by Fabrizio & Paul. All Rights Reserved.

Coupons were given by such dealers so the customer could eventually redeem them. These came in various denominations:

We show lots of period documentation on this and many, many other phonographic topics in our books, notably Antique Phonograph Advertising and one of my favorites, Phonographica.

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ire#p91754

George P.

[ejackett]

George,
Thank you so much for the information you've privided to me, it's exactly what I've been
looking for. I try and keep a folder on all my machines so that if I sell one or God forbid
my daughter has to either keep or dispose of them then the next person will have some info
on them. This info helps me tremendously.
All the Best
Gene

[phonogfp]

You're very welcome, Gene!

George P.

[fran604g]

"...it means a great deal more to you than it does to me."

Love it! Great items, George!

Fran