The End of Berliner in the U.S.

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phonogfp
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Re: The End of Berliner in the U.S.

Post by phonogfp »

Seaman had a superior machine (the Zonophone) and an established sales organization (National Gramophone Corporation), but had been operating under Berliner's patents. The Berliner group wouldn't cooperate regarding the handling of better goods for less money, but Seaman couldn't strike out on his own without patent protection.

Columbia, with its control of the key Bell/Tainter patents, was looking to enter the disc machine market after its failed attempts via the Wonder and the Vitaphone. Columbia and Seaman were a match made in heaven - at least for 18 months, after which Columbia cut loose the Nat'l Gramo Corp in favor of its new AH and AJ Disc Graphophones.

A concise explanation of this can also be found on pages 50-51 of Discovering Antique Phonographs.

George P.
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