Steam fired (gramo)phone

[Sherazhyder]

Hello ! Here is a video, shared by a friend, of a unique talking machine fired by a mini steam boiler which uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force is transformed, by a connecting rod and crank, into rotational force for work. The mechanism is quite elaborate. Amazing idea!

Currently it does not seem to have speed control function and the noise from pistons is very loud probably for absence of proper maintenance. I guess this has originated from the sub continent as the horn and back bracket suggest.

I am not sure if this was an experimental project or patented.

Cheers
Sheraz

[Sherazhyder]

Here comes the video

[Inigo]

This is not steam, it is the famous Sterling hot air motor. It was used in certain European machines, the most famous the Paillard Maestrophone, which I believe could be the machine being played in your video.

[AllenKoe]

A fascinating machine... what "fuel" are you using?

The expert on these machines was Wayne Kosovic (RIP), 'Gramophone78.'

A variety of models were on the market (mainly European) and were being patented as early as 1909. Here is a pertinent excerpt from PHP:

"Later (1911), methyl alcohol was used to power 12-hour+, 'hot-air turntables' of Paillard (Polyeucte) and Apollo (Maestrophone), invented (1908-1911) by Gustav Tresenreuter (Ger 46459), Carl Veltman (Swiss 49068) and Gabriel Lopez-Mantaras Villa (Sp 51083) and also sold by C. Craies & A. J. Stavridi of London."

Allen

[Starkton]

Albert Költzow from Berlin, by his own account, had been operating some of his phonographs with hot air since 1894. He later wrote that his motors had been running for hours.

In early 1894, Stollwerck Brothers, Cologne, intended to drive the Echograph designed by Louis Rosenthal with a hot-air motor, to be developed by Robert Bosch, German inventor, workshop for precision mechanics and electrical engineering, Stuttgart, capital of the then Kingdom of Württemberg. Bosch had already built hot-air motors, but, according to a letter to Stollwerck, they were not suitable for continuous operation. As the Echograph did not reach the market, Bosch's potential further development of this type of drive for Stollwerck Brothers certainly did not get beyond experimental study.

[stirlingfan]

That appears to be a sad copy of a Paillard Maestrophone Model 205, but a far cry from the original Swiss machine in both aesthetics and sound quality.

[Hoodoo]

I could use one of those to help heat my house, it is -28C here on the Canadian prairie this morning (-18F).

[Roaring20s]

The expert on these machines was Wayne Kosovic (RIP), 'Gramophone78.
Allen

I was going to suggest that he contact Wayne. When did he pass???

That will be a great unit once it is in order! Congratulations.

James.