Phonographic Birthday Card

[Lucius1958]

Thanks fellows, for the birthday greetings. Sixty two...(sigh...)

But no one has commented on the engraving (please ignore the pink party hat!). I don't recall seeing this one with three people sitting at the "spectacle" Phonograph. At first I suspected that it was originally Edison seated in front of the machine (elevating his pinky finger) with someone else's head grafted on for the card. Now I'm not so sure.

Has anyone seen any contemporary use of this engraving?

I suspect the man to the left is George Gouraud. The man speaking into the tube looks like William Henry Preece. If so, this would suggest the image was created in England, likely during Gouraud's exhibition of the Phonograph there in 1888-89. All this is off the top of my head, so I'd be interested in any corroboration or correction.

Enough nerdiness. Thanks again for the kind wishes. Boy, the time DOES pass... Twenty years ago, Tim Fabrizio and I were beginning the work on our first book. TWENTY YEARS AGO...???


George P.

Speaking of portraits, I was pleasantly surprised to find my likeness on the title page of the Compendium....

(No kidding: it was a remarkable resemblance, right down to the glasses).

Bill

[phonogfp]

Speaking of portraits, I was pleasantly surprised to find my likeness on the title page of the Compendium....

(No kidding: it was a remarkable resemblance, right down to the glasses).

Bill

You must be referring to the title page of the First Edition, where a woodcut of W.H. Preece speaking into a tinfoil Phonograph is watermarked behind the printing. The Second Edition title page for some reason does not have that watermark.

George P.

[Lucius1958]

Speaking of portraits, I was pleasantly surprised to find my likeness on the title page of the Compendium....

(No kidding: it was a remarkable resemblance, right down to the glasses).

Bill

You must be referring to the title page of the First Edition, where a woodcut of W.H. Preece speaking into a tinfoil Phonograph is watermarked behind the printing. The Second Edition title page for some reason does not have that watermark.

George P.

That's the one...

Bill