Interesting old coin op machine

rizbone · Post by **rizbone** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 9:47 am

While going through my computer I came across some images of a machine I missed out on. I gave up at around 8K and I think it went for around 11K. Marked Universal Talking Machine co. The horn appeard to be rubber, but didn't look to be original to the machine. It appears to be a trademark machine converted to coin operation.

Starkton · Post by **Starkton** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:31 am

This is one of the holy grails of talking machine collectors.

The Universal Talking Machine Co. was founded in early 1898 to create a coin-in-the-slot machine based on a Berliner gramophone. It was designed and patented by Louis Philippe Valiquet. Here is the patent of 28 October 1898: http://www.google.de/patents/US631911?p ... 11&f=false

The Berliner Gramophone Co. didn't object to Valiquet's machine which cost $50, but it proved to be impossible to sell more than a few specimen.

Post by **gramophone78** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:36 am

I believe this model was offered for sale by Montgomery Ward and is in the 1898 catalog being offered (copy) by Shawn in the Yankee Trader. I know of 4 in North America.

phonogfp · Post by **phonogfp** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 12:39 pm

Montgomery Ward did indeed offer this model - I have it in an original catalog.

I'm amazed this machine went for only approx. $11,000. I'd give my left...earlobe...for one.

George P.

rizbone · Post by **rizbone** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 2:08 pm

It was on auctionzip with those tiny thumbnails. Auction was south of Johnstown PA about a year ago. It wasn't a featured item as the auctioneer had no idea of the value and figured he might get about $50 for it before the auction. They were auctioning off the contents of a city owned building and said it had been there since the early '70s.

Post by **gramophone78** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:31 pm

Actually, this machine and the auction was posted on this forum back then. I think the same pics you posted were also posted. Maybe the new owner will post pics of the machine as it looks now. That would be nice.

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:28 am

Article to come in 2013 in the Antique Phonograph. It works amazingly well. Check out the video I've posted on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BT2-LEyZyw This video,or a future version will be part of the article as well.

Shawn

Post by **gramophone78** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:22 am

Very cool Shawn. Thanks for sharing such a great rare machine.

Starkton · Post by **Starkton** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 12:15 pm

Shawn wrote:Check out the video I've posted on YouTube.

Excellent and highly instructive video! This is an amazing machine. Was it the first coin-in-the-slot gramophone in the US?

Shawn · Post by **Shawn** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:18 pm

Its from 1898. We believe it(the model not this specific machine)to be the first coin-op disk machine produced.

Shawn

Interesting old coin op machine

Interesting old coin op machine

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