(Child's) Qualitone dates

[AllenKoe]

Hi

I have been asked to comment on a hand-wind disc phono, with the trade-name of Qualitone. Probably from the teens.

There are two attempts on it to specify the patent dates, but they managed to obliterate the info between the Month and Year.
The 2 that are visible have: May xx, 1907 and Feb. xx, 1910. So there are 4 possibilities for each year...

It would save a bit of time to narrow this down. If we dig it up, I'll pass it on.

Much thanks!

Allen

[Roaring20s]

This youtube was just posted yesterday. Same one?
This is what it looks like ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZMlIDi-uKA

James.

[AllenKoe]

You're a mind reader!

All we need is the more specific patent date(s).

Allen

[Roaring20s]

I know the following is at least 7 years later than the the 1910 date on the subject. I'm just looking for a possible connections, and this may be a wrong direction.

This manufacturer used the Qualitone name in the 1920s. The company Indestro MFG Co., started in 1917 making a bottle cap press. A branch of this company Duro Metal Products, used the Qualitone name for phonograph and radio parts.

Screen Shot 2023-06-15 at 5.28.30 PM.png (562.57 KiB) Viewed 422 times

https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-S ... e-0143.pdf
and ... https://www.radiomuseum.org/m/durometal_usa_en_1.html

https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/sin ... uro-metal/

That's all I got!

[AllenKoe]

Very interesting...

There were indeed some ads for a 'radio-connection' with a "Qualitone" brand in the 1920s - the $64 question is whether this is the same company as the Finger-wind child's model of the teens (for the small discs).

I did a scan online of the 'Talking Machine World,' 1905-1930 (aka --> The Radio-Merchant) to see if they advertised the more primitive (non-electric) version, no tubes, etc., but I got no hits at all. If we ever get the more precise patent dates stamped on it (1907 & 1910), we would get a little closer to the truth. There's got to be more than one survivor out there...

Much thanks!

Allen

[AllenKoe]

Well, part of the puzzle has been solved. This device with "no motor to get out of order and no spring to break" dates from the Xmas season of 1922. The cost was minimal as it was a free 'Premium' for children whose parents signed up ONE new Yearly subscriber to the Examiner-New Era newspaper of Lancaster, PA. Since all of the known correspondence occurred in the newspaper, we do not know who actually manufactured it, if that's the right word. They claimed it would play any record (exc an Edison) up to 10" in diameter.

"With ordinary care, it will last indefinitely."

And so it did - one anyway. The Instructions are in the APS Library.

Best
Allen

[Roaring20s]

It may help to post a clear photo of the existing patent information as it is seen on the phonograph?

James.

[AllenKoe]

QualitonePatentInfo.jpg (67.19 KiB) Viewed 363 times

Hi James,

Ask and ye shall receive. Here is a close-up showing the two known dates, from May 1907 and Feb 1910.
There are 4 possibilities in each month since US patents are/were issued once a week, on Tuesdays.

PHP has several dates for phono-related things in those ranges, but it is hard to say which refers to some feature used in the final product.
The name "Qualitone" does not appear in the wording of the actual Patent.

Best
Allen

[Roaring20s]

It may help to post a clear photo of the existing patent information as it is seen on the phonograph?

James.

Or maybe not!
With all of the clear space available.

Perhaps the patent is about what it's next to?
If that is not just for a rivet, what is that hole part of?
The only thing that's noticeably different is the reproducer/horn/bracket design.
I guess it could just be about its general construction, too.

The choices of patent date are:
May 7, 14, 21, or 28, of 1907
and
February 1, 8, 15, or 22, of 1910

Nice puzzle.

[OrthoFan]

Since all of the known correspondence occurred in the newspaper, we do not know who actually manufactured it, if that's the right word.
Best
Allen

I noticed in the instruction manual that appears on the Old Crank site -- https://oldcrank.com/reference/qualitone/index.html -- that the company is identified as:

QUALITOY MANUFACTURING CO., Inc.,
3038-40 Chestnut Street
PHILADELPHIA, PA., U. S. A.

Virtually nothing about them online. The search results point back to the Old Crank site, and nothing else.

OrthoFan