Need help identifying this reproducer-please look!

[Jerry B.]

George, what does a Vitaphone reproducer look like? Thanks, Jerry

[bbphonoguy]

I must agree that the sound box looks like a reproduction. I really can't understand why anyone would have stamped the Feb.19 1895 date so poorly - - it would have been better to simply leave it blank.

The carton looks like it could be genuine. The image is one used by Albert Armstrong's circa 1902-04 incarnation of the Vitaphone, and this machine was later offered as a premium for selling subscriptions, bluing, etc. I'm a bit concerned about the lack of company identification & address - especially in light of the return/exchange instructions. Yet, the carton looks old and the graphics look right. If it's a fake, it certainly wasn't done by the same guy who made the sound box!

George P.

I feel the opposite way about the box. It would be easy to reproduce a carton, compared to reproducing a soundbox. I've seen lots of "ephemera" reproductions, and they tend to look pretty good. Just the fact that the carton is in such excellent shape makes me suspicious, but it's hard to tell without having it in one's hands to look at.

[phonogfp]

George, what does a Vitaphone reproducer look like? Thanks, Jerry

Not that I've seen many genuine Vitaphone sound boxes, but the early ones appear to be imitations of the Clark-Johnson device - minus the patent information, "J" designation, or serial number.

George P.