Does anyone know where I could get a repro tinfoil phono?

[Dustie89]

Looking for a reproduction tinfoil phono, doubt anyone has a real one for sale, to display in our phonograph museum.

[TinfoilPhono]

Machinist Bill Miller makes the finest replica "Kreusi" model ever produced, in my humble opinion. This was the very first prototype phonograph, which makes it the most popular replica among collectors. It works well, but as a prototype it is harder to use than later styles. He advertises these in The Antique Phonograph at $3995.

Jalal Aro in Paris sells an stunningly beautiful replica of the "Hardy" model, originally made in early 1878 and the first phonograph sold to the general public. There are pictures of one in the main forum, posted recently in a thread about Christmas coming early this year. (My avatar shows an original Hardy.) Offhand I don't recall the exact price but I think it is somewhere in the 3000€ range.

Fine quality cast iron replicas are not inexpensive. They are very complex to manufacture.

For a more economical but still very fine working replica you could contact Charles Smith, who makes reproductions from the drawing originally published in Scientific American in mid-1878 -- which infuriated the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company. The machines are crafted from wood and plaster so they are much less costly than cast iron machines. But they are attractive and make good recordings.

Many other replicas have been made by a great number of different machinists/hobbyists over the years, but they turn up very infrequently. The ones I mentioned are the only ones I'm aware of that are currently on the market.

You can PM me for contact information for any of these people if you want.