Phonographs in period saloon pictures

[TinfoilPhono]

Several years back I bought a book titled "Saloons, Bars, Cigar Stores" and absolutely loved it. It's a collection of photographs printed in large 8x10 size showing interior pictures of, well, just what the title says. I love photos of store and bar interiors of the 1890s and early 1900s. There's just so much to see when you study the details. Interestingly there were several phonographs to be found in those pictures, including an Idelia in a surprisingly downscale-looking bar.

Recently the author came out with a second book of photos, titled "American Saloons". It is also chock full of amazing pictures of saloon interiors, and once again there are quite a few phonographs to be seen -- including a couple of Multiphones.

If you also like very early coin-slot gambling and vending machines there are tons of them to be found in saloons of the era as well. I have a very early poker machine from San Francisco in my collection, I loved seeing pictures of the same machine 'in situ'.

I've corresponded with the author and he was kind enough to allow me to post a few pictures here.

If you're interested in getting a copy of the book, PM me and I'll forward details. Definitely fun reading on a cold winter's night. Or a hot summer's night for that matter. I never get tired of these books since I seem to find something new each time I immerse myself into the scenes.

[howardpgh]

I wonder how many of those bars have Brunswick fixtures.

[TinfoilPhono]

A lot of them. One nice feature of the books is that the right hand page has the full size photo while the left page has a caption detailing some of the fixtures, machines, advertising signs etc. that are found in the image.

[Phonofreak]

I would like to get a copy of that book. I would love to have a saloon on my model train layout with a phonograph in it. Now I can combine my model trains and phonographs.
Harvey Kravitz

[edisonphonoworks]

I always like seeing machines in there original setting, and it is wonderful to see where Multiphones used to live!

[Bruce]

Using ones imagination I can see these dark bars with rich vibrant colours commonly found in the wallpaper of the era.

Bruce

[A Ford 1]

Hi All,
These pictures make me very nostalgic since my father loved his beer and hard spirits. He took me with him to bars quite often to give not only my mother a break but I am sure to show off his young son. I also worked for him in his hardwood floor business before and to some extent after starting college, we always stopped until dinner time, on the way home. I recall at least one nickel eating Seeburg or Wurlitzer coin operated piano and one of the early coin operated electric record players as well as later ones. I always loved music and I pestered him for nickels. Also, there were when I was young, at least one slot machine that I recall. All of these bars or Taverns had the fine mahogany bar and back shelves as seen in these pictures as well as the copper spit gutter or in some cases spittoons. Leo Obenschaine's (not sure of the spelling this is phonetic) restaurant had the Silver Dollar Bar with about 10 silver dollars spaced 4 to 5 feet apart in the one to two inch octagonal white tile floor with a pattern in black tiles. The restaurant's Sour Beef and Kartoffel Knoedel, the oe should be an o with an umlaut but I do not know how to pull that off, and it's bread pudding with cooked rum-sugar-corn starch topping were out standing!

[zenith82]

I love everything that is early coin-op, whether it be phonographs, slots, or other amusement devices. These pictures are really neat. I'm estimating that most of them were taken in the 1905-1910 era, though it would be nice if there was a way to zoom in and see the calendars hanging on the walls!

[A Ford 1]

Just looked on the internet as I wanted to find a copy of Saloons etc. but $150. to 250 is a bit rich for my blood in regard to a picture book. Love to have a copy but have better uses for that kind of bread.
Best to all,
Allen

[TinfoilPhono]

It's available for $65 here.