Earliest Zonophone?

[gramophone78]

The machines case shown in the Nov. issue appears (by design) to be either a Type "A" (if the panels are glass) or a Type "B".
Unfortunately, there is no mention either way.

The Zonophone sound box appears also to be referred to as the "entirely new Exhibition" In this Nov. 1899 ad.
Just as the Clark-Johnson was referred to in the same period National Gramophone Corp. catalog (Dec. 1899).

There is also mention of an "ingenious" connection between horn and sound box without "bothersome" leather elbow.

Berliner 1899 Catalog.jpg

How would one tell this Zonophone soundbox apart from a C-J?

I would recommend reviewing George's wonderful Zonophone article in the Dec 2011 issue of The Antique Phonograph. It shows two variations of the Zonophone closed face sound box.

[US PHONO]

I would recommend reviewing George's wonderful Zonophone article in the Dec 2011 issue of The Antique Phonograph. It shows two variations of the Zonophone closed face sound box.

Thanks, is there a copy online?

[gramophone78]

I would recommend reviewing George's wonderful Zonophone article in the Dec 2011 issue of The Antique Phonograph. It shows two variations of the Zonophone closed face sound box.

Thanks, is there a copy online?

As far as I know, you need to join up to get the magazine. Well worth the price of the membership....in my opinion. If you have an interest in Zonophone, you want to join ASAP as I believe there is going to be another great Zonophone article in the very near future you may not want to miss.... .

[AllenKoe]

"The term "Zonophon" for "phonographic sound instruments" was first registered in March 1898 by an import-export warehouse of musical instruments, located in Hamburg, Germany."

Thanks for this reference, Stephan. I have seen the 'Feb 24, 1898' date in the 2nd edition of "The Patent History of the Phonograph" (1991). The problem is that this is a SINGLE, unique ad (NY Post), never again repeated (as such). Should we not expect that regular Zonophone shipments to Germany would engender a continuous series of such ads?

Is it possible to be more precise about the "March 1898" date for the Hamburg, Germany Registration for the word 'Zonophon'? Did they give the actual date itself?

Much thanks. There is much about early Zonophone that is very tentative, as if they were always testing the waters. Based on the first (unique) advertising of Feb-Mar 1898, it was over two years before an actual Zonophone machine (not a Berliner) was put on regular sale.

Allen

[AllenKoe]

"As mentioned in the December 2011 article in 'The Antique Phonograph,' the Phonoscope reported the export of Zonophones to England by January 1900.'

I saw that reference in the Phonoscope too, but considering the rarity (or almost non-existence) of such (tagged) machines in England, tend to believe it is more of Zonophone's early 'vaporware.' Once someone ran an ad in the Phonoscope (as Prescott did), the editorial staff there was rather generous in their commercial evaluations.

"There have also been early production Zonophones found with Prescott "export" celluloid tags and full-ridged cabinets."

I only know of ONE such machine, recently found, with serial number in the bedplate. If you can supply other examples (Prescott-exported), that would indeed be helpful. Much appreciated.

"It's possible that those full-ridged cabinets were intended for export use, although if typical U.S. National Gramophone Corp. tags exist on these, it would suggest a chronology. If so, a comparison of serial numbers would be in order."

I do own an excellent example of a fully-ridged Zonophone C (US) and it is also shown in the first (1900) Nat'l Gram Corp Flyer for its regular sale in the US. This machine will appear in the article.

If other collectors have, or know of, specific examples of these early ridged Model C's, let us hear about them.

Thanks.

Allen

[Starkton]

The problem is that this is a SINGLE, unique ad (NY Post), never again repeated (as such). Should we not expect that regular Zonophone shipments to Germany would engender a continuous series of such ads?

Is it possible to be more precise about the "March 1898" date for the Hamburg, Germany Registration for the word 'Zonophon'? Did they give the actual date itself?

The terms "Zon-o-phone" and "Zonophone" were widely spread in the US newspapers from early 1898. Here is an Harbach Brothers ad from the Philadelphia Inquirer of February 20, 1898 - see below. I have seen another one of February 13, 1898.

"Zonophon" was registered as a tradename in Germany in mid-March 1898.

[AllenKoe]

"The terms "Zon-o-phone" and "Zonophone" were **widely** spread in the US newspapers from early 1898. Here is an Harbach Brothers ad from the Philadelphia Inquirer of February 20, 1898 - see below. I have seen another one of February 13, 1898."

These two ads which you found are certainly earlier than the previously known Feb 24, 1898. Both seem to be "classified" ads of rather small content (and visibility).

As you probably know, the NY Post advertisement of Feb 24 was a larger boxed (display) ad.

So it may all depend on what is meant by "widely spread" (above). These 2 examples (a week or two earlier) seem rather tentative - almost invisible - don't you agree? And they are still actually Berliner merchandise.

Do we see such ads (using the term Zonophone) at the same time (Feb-Aug 1898) in Germany?

Thanks.

Allen

[phonogfp]

"There have also been early production Zonophones found with Prescott "export" celluloid tags and full-ridged cabinets."

I only know of ONE such machine, recently found, with serial number in the bedplate. If you can supply other examples (Prescott-exported), that would indeed be helpful. Much appreciated.

One of the members of this forum has one. Perhaps he will come forward and share some photos.

George P.

[AllenKoe]

"One of the members of this forum has one." [ridged Type C Zono cabinet marked for Export]

Yes, that is the ONE I know of and referred to [albeit obliquely].

I thought you were implying that there were several known: "There have also been early production ZonophoneS found with Prescott "export" celluloid tags and full-ridged cabinets."

Allen

[phonogfp]

"One of the members of this forum has one." [ridged Type C Zono cabinet marked for Export]

Yes, that is the ONE I know of and referred to [albeit obliquely].

I thought you were implying that there were several known: "There have also been early production ZonophoneS found with Prescott "export" celluloid tags and full-ridged cabinets."

Allen

I have searched my archives for photos of what I recall was a similar machine, but I failed to find them.

Perhaps if you post a request for information/photos of any Zonophone with a "Frederick Prescott" celluloid tag in the "British and European Machines" section of this forum, another example may surface.

George P.