Out Of Deepest, Darkest Africa

[Garret]

Nice find. I'm almost amazed that it worked out. What city, country was it found in though? Africa is a pretty big place.

Great question! I'd be interested in knowing the answer, too!

[gramophone78]

Man! The sound on that video is pretty hard to take!

The record I used is a very early example of a Universal made from a brownish celluloid material. They are very, very thin and semi-flexible and also extremely rare.


It is believed by some that Universal (and others) were experimenting with celluloid "again" (Berliner had tried several year prior) around this time. However, given the nature of the material...they could not hold up under constant play with a steel needle.

You will note the record is not even marked "Universal" and nor is the lease agreement or turntable lug dimple present on the reverse.

In truth, I should never have played the record at all. Some record collectors are shaking their heads now...

However, since the machine has a counter balance to reduce the weight and drag on a record...I decided to try it as a one time test.

One also has to keep in mind, the Clark-Johnson sound box is not rebuilt and they were never a great sound box anyway. In other words, this was not a test for fidelity.

[gramophone78]

Nice find. I'm almost amazed that it worked out. What city, country was it found in though? Africa is a pretty big place.

Bruce, the machine was found several hundred miles North of Capetown South Africa.

I would like to add a few pics of things that were not shown in the article. The Valiquet designed motor really is something to look at. A real work of art. I guess this is why the Type A had the glass panels..??.

Here is also a branding on the bottom edge of the case "MADE IN USA".

This machine has "no" serial number stamped anywhere. In fact, the only serial number is on the Clark-Johnson. Yet another mystery.. .

The horn has a fixed brass two piece elbow. Similar to the later type elbow with a knurled tightening screw, this elbow (believed by some to pre-date the leather elbow found on early Zonophone's), is machined perfectly for an airtight fit. It is not easy to remove from the sound box throat and therefore no need for the knurled screw.

Personally, I'm am very impressed by the overall precision of everything.

Some believe, the cost in producing these parts such as the elbow were just not cost efficient and may have caused them to revert to the old leather horn elbow used by Berliner very quickly after the introduction.

The same could be assumed regarding the bi-metal tone arm. The amount of time and cost to produce such an arm was surely expensive. This may explain why very few of these arms are known. Some believe, a one piece stamped steel arm was used to replace the bi-metal arm very quickly after the Spring 1900 introduction.

Clearly Universal was attempting to show the market a machine that in no way resembled the Gramophone.

[Valecnik]

I should have published it with my question but I was going to guess Capetown. It makes sense though, a relatively rich part of Africa and a British colony at that time.

[gramophone78]

I should have published it with my question but I was going to guess Capetown. It makes sense though, a relatively rich part of Africa and a British colony at that time.

Very true. Also the Boer War had brought a lot of people from all over to that region. One could speculate that a potential "agent" had contacted Prescott for an example. After all, Prescott was certainly looking for agents.

I find a sentence used in a Phonoscope ad by Prescott very interesting (see attached). Although, this ad is still pre-production and still with a mechanical feed type model. One that likely never came to be.

[Bruce]

Wayne

I am always impressed with the items you come up with. I am sure it has something to do with years of experience and getting your name out there as a buyer/seller. Then again I think it has a lot to do with some shoeless horses in your neighbourhood.

Not only is this a beautiful machine it is a very unique item. I'm betting a very early salesman consignment sample which after it served it's purpose was sold off to recoup some money, eventually ending up in a South African collection. Boy the story this machine could tell; USA to Europe (?) and to Africa.

My vote is with the counter weight being added right at time of manufacture as an experiment. Then when the company moved on to other ideas it was sold off, or consigned, as no longer needed but still working so had some value.

Bruce

[gramophone78]

Wayne

I am always impressed with the items you come up with. I am sure it has something to do with years of experience and getting your name out there as a buyer/seller. Then again I think it has a lot to do with some shoeless horses in your neighbourhood.

Not only is this a beautiful machine it is a very unique item. I'm betting a very early salesman consignment sample which after it served it's purpose was sold off to recoup some money, eventually ending up in a South African collection. Boy the story this machine could tell; USA to Europe (?) and to Africa.

My vote is with the counter weight being added right at time of manufacture as an experiment. Then when the company moved on to other ideas it was sold off, or consigned, as no longer needed but still working so had some value.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce. Clearly, I should shop closer to home.. . When shipping becomes more than the price of the item....it makes you think.
I received a PM asking why I called the tone arm (travel arm) bi-metal.
Well, I guess pics would help explain. I know George did an excellent job in adding a photo in his first Compendium
showing the ovular shape of the arm body.

You see, the arm body is really a piece of rolled steel (joined by a seam at the bottom) that was then flattened. It was pressed more as you go to the sound box end. In fact, that end is pressed flat and then curled to allow the sound box throat to fit on.
The yoke end is ovular. The front part is made of cast brass and is joined to the ovular end. Creating another seam.
The support arm underneath is also cast brass with a leather pad. Finally, a brass pin was used to hold it all together. The pin that goes into the main support arm is also steel.
So, one can say the arm is bi-metal.
It seems (based on very few known), this arm was changed to one that was simply stamped out of thicker gauge steel. So, it has a scooped out appearance on the underside. The arm support is also stamped steel and redesigned to fit further under the now exposed underside.

Clearly the early arm required far more skill to make and more man hours.