Question about the term "Oxford."

[Jerry B.]

The thread about the unmarked Columbia BV client machine raised a question. Did Sears call most any machine, either disc or cylinder, an Oxford or Oxford Junior? Was that just a Sears label? What did other large mail order companies call their machines?

Thanks, Jerry B.

[JerryVan]

Yes, that was Sears' brand name. Possibly Harvard as well. (Makes sense, given the college theme.) I believe Montgomery Ward used the name Thornward. Others can/will confirm.

[gramophone-georg]

AFAIK Montgomery Ward machines and records were Lakeside (early), then Cecilian, then Airline.

[JerryVan]

AFAIK Montgomery Ward machines and records were Lakeside (early), then Cecilian, then Airline.

Thanks Georg. I was hoping someone would double check my "Thornward" statement.

[OrthoFan]

AFAIK Montgomery Ward machines and records were Lakeside (early), then Cecilian, then Airline.

Thanks Georg. I was hoping someone would double check my "Thornward" statement.

Apparently, for a short time -- https://www.intertique.com/ThornwardID.html

Also, the brand was not limited to phonographs -- https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Montg ... Dandy.html

[JerryVan]

AFAIK Montgomery Ward machines and records were Lakeside (early), then Cecilian, then Airline.

Thanks Georg. I was hoping someone would double check my "Thornward" statement.

Apparently, for a short time -- https://www.intertique.com/ThornwardID.html

Also, the brand was not limited to phonographs -- https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Montg ... Dandy.html

Perhaps I've been redeemed?!

[gramophone-georg]

Thanks Georg. I was hoping someone would double check my "Thornward" statement.

Apparently, for a short time -- https://www.intertique.com/ThornwardID.html

Also, the brand was not limited to phonographs -- https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Montg ... Dandy.html

Perhaps I've been redeemed?!

I intended to research this today. I was employed by MW in the 70s and am sort of an historian on it a little but had never heard of the Thornward brand. But the name combo seemed plausible and it ain't like JerryVan to say something out of left field.

[JerryVan]

Apparently, for a short time -- https://www.intertique.com/ThornwardID.html

Also, the brand was not limited to phonographs -- https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Montg ... Dandy.html

Perhaps I've been redeemed?!

I intended to research this today. I was employed by MW in the 70s and am sort of an historian on it a little but had never heard of the Thornward brand. But the name combo seemed plausible and it ain't like JerryVan to say something out of left field.

[phonojim]

Jerry, you are correct. Columbia did build a Thornward cylinder machine for Montgomery Ward ca. 1901 as shown in Howard Hazelcorn's Columbia Phonograph Companion vol. 1 which also includes a note on the origin of the name. As far as I know, that was the only use of the name.

[phonogfp]

Here's the earlier Thornward decal as it appeared in The Talking Machine Compendium (1997). The authors got the 1897 date wrong.

From "The Talking Machine Compendium" by Fabrizio & Paul. All Rights Reserved.

Here's the later decal as shown in Discovering Antique Phonographs (2000). The date was almost right.

From "Discovering Antique Phonographs" by Fabrizio &n Paul. All Rights Reserved.

Finally, in the March 2008 issue of the APS magazine, an article appeared which examined Montgomery-Ward's earliest talking machine offerings, and correctly established the date of the Thornward's introduction as Spring/Summer 1901. Sometimes research takes years.

George P.