What is a Lewis Graphophone???

[flashpanblue]

Hello,
I was looking over some of the pictures of Phonograph collections In the " Were is Waldo" thread when I saw what I thought was a Columbia Q Graphophone or Language Phone. Then I noticed that it had a decal on the bed plate that said " Lewis" Can anyone fill me in on what this is about. I have never come across this name before.
thanks
Pete

[phonogfp]

Hello,
I was looking over some of the pictures of Phonograph collections In the " Were is Waldo" thread when I saw what I thought was a Columbia Q Graphophone or Language Phone. Then I noticed that it had a decal on the bed plate that said " Lewis" Can anyone fill me in on what this is about. I have never come across this name before.
thanks
Pete

It really IS a Q Graphophone, but sold through the Lewis School for Stammerers, along with a set of records to supposedly cure Stammering (now known as Stuttering). These Lewis-marked machines are rare, as are the records.

There is also a sound-modifying device called a Lewis Consonator which some collectors mistakenly believe has something to do with the stammering machine and records. There is absolutely no connection - just the same name.

George P.

[StL Bill]

Hello,
I was looking over some of the pictures of Phonograph collections In the " Were is Waldo" thread when I saw what I thought was a Columbia Q Graphophone or Language Phone. Then I noticed that it had a decal on the bed plate that said " Lewis" Can anyone fill me in on what this is about. I have never come across this name before.
thanks
Pete

It really IS a Q Graphophone, but sold through the Lewis Phono-Metric Institute, along with a set of records to supposedly cure Stammering (now known as Stuttering). These Lewis-marked machines are rare, as are the records.

There is also a sound-modifying device called a Lewis Consonator which some collectors mistakenly believe has something to do with the stammering machine and records. There is absolutely no connection - just the same name.

George P.

If anybody knows about these machines, It would be both George Paul and his writing partner Tim Fabrizio. I think that they both have done quite a bit of research on this company. I have posted some pictures of both the machine and the cylinder and box. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon not only the phonograph, but also the complete set of cylinders together many years ago. The cylinders are in mint condition (two were missing),but all the boxes are there. I have also shown copies of the original sales brochure. The original is owned by a collector of phonograph literature here in St. Louis who will not part with it (George, I am sure that you know of whom I speak.) Anyway. I hope that you enjoy the pictures.

Bill
P.S. I f you noticed, these never came with a lid, hence no holes in the motor board.

[flashpanblue]

Hello,
Thanks you guys for posting all the fantastic information and pictures!! That's why I love this Forum, you learn something new all the time!!
Pete

[phonogfp]

That's why I love this Forum, you learn something new all the time!!
Pete

Yeah - I even re-learned the proper name for the company too! (Earlier post modified.)

Thanks for posting the Lewis machine, Bill, and for everything else too. Why didn't we visit you when we were shooting photos in St. Louis??? I think we shot one of the Lewis items at the house of the "collector of phonograph literature" you mentioned. That was over 11 years ago!

George P.

[outune]

George-- As a somewhat-retired speech therapist, have you ever spent any time looking into the efficacy of the use of the Lewis records as a "cure" for stuttering. (Oh Hel- Oh Hel- Oh Helen please be mine!) Some of the therapists I worked with in my years as a special educator used a telephone-like, hollow pvc device that, when spoken into, gave immediate aural feedback to the child and decreased the frequency and duration of stuttering. I wonder how Lewis' approach is similar or different from current therapies.

Brad