The First Victrola

[phonogfp]

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

July 3, 1906: Walter Pitts was granted a U.S. design patent (No. 38,113) for a “Cabinet for Talking Machines.” This would become the first production cabinet used for the Victor-Victrola (the “Pooley cabinet,” termed for the furniture company that first manufactured it).

#antiquephonographsociety #phonograph #gramophone #antique

[epigramophone]

In November 1906 the Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd introduced the Sheraton Gramophone Grand.
It has been said that Eldridge Johnson disapproved of G&T's refusal to copy the Victrola, but the period Sheraton design has surely aged more gracefully.
From about 1910 The Gramophone Company (by then HMV) fell into line with a range of uninspired Victrola clones.

[Steve]

Sadly, the "Pooley" Victrola is an ugly beast by any standards, surely a misjudgement of design by someone responsible, if it was Pitts himself, the name fits perfectly. As rare as it is in the UK, the last one sold for all of £40 IIRC. Clearly no one wanted to take that bruiser home with them.

[Garret]

The Sheraton Grand is a pretty darn big machine. You could easily hide booze in the back space. That said, the cabinet can be prone to splitting and warpage...

[Starkton]

In November 1906 the Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd introduced the Sheraton Gramophone Grand.

I doubt that the Sheraton Grand was launched in November 1906, as Oakley and Proudfoot state. I would consider February 1907 to be more likely. However, I am happy to be convinced otherwise if someone presents a confirming historical source.

[Inigo]

I believe I've seen it SG at home in one Spanish Gramophone catalogue, saying that it was acquired by our Queen Victoria and king Alfonso. These were married in may 31st, 1906. Until 1915 the Spanish Gramophone was owned by Cie Française, and things should have come here later than in UK for sure. I will check anyway the date of such catalogue tonight at home...
The machine looks fantastic, but I've never seen one for sale here, not to say in the flesh...
Here some photos borrowed from a Banbury auction house, Jan 2018, JS Fine Art.
In Roger's advert, though, the crank seems to be the old style, flat crank, placed near the front, while the example on these photos have a round crank, I guess female thread, located at the back...

[Inigo]

There's an old thread about an example sold in the US between two members here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32038
And here's YT video demonstrating EMG Colonel's example...
https://youtu.be/rN9Bcz8abCM?si=0IerWn-rtqvHB5P8

[epigramophone]

In November 1906 the Gramophone & Typewriter Ltd introduced the Sheraton Gramophone Grand.

I doubt that the Sheraton Grand was launched in November 1906, as Oakley and Proudfoot state. I would consider February 1907 to be more likely. However, I am happy to be convinced otherwise if someone presents a confirming historical source.

When you challenge the research of others it is customary to explain your reasons for doing so.
To simply say that you would consider another date to be "more likely" is not good enough.
The onus is on you to "present a confirming historical source" for February 1907.

[jmad7474]

Sadly, the "Pooley" Victrola is an ugly beast by any standards, surely a misjudgement of design by someone responsible, if it was Pitts himself, the name fits perfectly. As rare as it is in the UK, the last one sold for all of £40 IIRC. Clearly no one wanted to take that bruiser home with them.

A European phonograph collector calling a historic American design ugly? Well if that ain't the pot calling the kettle black!

[melvind]

Sadly, the "Pooley" Victrola is an ugly beast by any standards, surely a misjudgement of design by someone responsible, if it was Pitts himself, the name fits perfectly. As rare as it is in the UK, the last one sold for all of £40 IIRC. Clearly no one wanted to take that bruiser home with them.

Strange opinion. In the USA this is one of the more sought after early Victrolas. I have owned 2 of them and the one I still have is an iconic piece of history and is the first internal horn Victrola made. I can't imagine a more interesting machine to own. I don't find it ugly by any measure.