What Did I Manage To Find?

[Shane]

I was at a home decor salvage-type place today, glancing through cardboard boxes on tables filled with random tools, cabinet knobs, drawer pulls etc. I was really shocked to find this lying in one of the bins:






On first glance, it's definitely something Columbia related, possibly Talkophone. There's a November (18th? it's hard to read) 1902 patent date listed beneath the mica. However, a comparison with my Talkophone machine's reproducer shows the throat is built in, not removable with three screws like this one. Anybody have any ideas as to what this could be?

[gramophoneshane]

Sorry I cant help with identification, but it's certainly an interesting & fairly early soundbox design.
It'll be intersting to hear what it turns out to be. Nice find indeed!

[Starkton]

Nice find! Apart from the patent date, November 18, 1902, the notch in the rim of the soundbox and the divided spring-wire ring identifies it at once as Talk-O-Phone soundbox.

It is an improved type of the 1902 design, therefore I don't think it is very early. My guess is around 1905.

Here is your soundbox mounted on a Talk-O-Phone Sousa:

[Shane]

Many thanks for the info! Interestingly, the reproducer on my (very late) Talkophone machine appears to be pot metal, while this one looks like brass.

For a the dollar I paid for it, I'm sure I'm ahead of the game here.