Witch's Hat Horn with mystery accessory

[FloridaClay]

I picked up a black and brass witch's hat horn in decent condition, with the usual lumps and bumps, today at a local pawn shop for what I thought was a good price. The horn has no maker's identification on it anywhere that I can find, just "PAT APPD FOR" between the eye for hanging it and where the bell begins. The diameter of the small end is the size of the small end of an Edison horn. The length is approx. 30" and the diameter of the bell opening is 16 ½". So first question, I guess, is who made it and about when. Thoughts on that?

More curiously there was a nickel plated accessory, or part of an accessory, stuck in the small end of the horn. It is about an inch and a half long and has a lever on it that raises and lowers the small metal circle you can see inside of it. As this would not change the volume in any way as it now stands, I am guessing that part of it is missing. Any thoughts about what it is and what's missing?

Clay

[phonogfp]

I'm a little puzzled by the "Pat. App'd For" stamp on that particular horn, Clay. The small end appears to be constructed of a tube soldered into the body of the horn. Whenever I've seen the PAF stamping, the horn has had a formed end (which is what was eventually patented on August 22, 1905). This horn doesn't seem to have any patentable features.

Is it possible that the present tube at the small end was added later and the horn's body repainted? If so, it's probable that your horn is a Tea Tray Company product. (If repainted, it may have originally sported a red rectangular decal on one side. Perhaps you can see an outline. If so, it's definitely a Tea Tray.)

hornTTlargedecal.jpg (106.68 KiB) Viewed 1523 times

As you surmised, the other piece is a volume control. When these turn up, they're usually missing whatever muffled the sound (I've never seen a complete one!). Although many collectors use these on phonographs, I believe they were originally supplied with dictation machines. I've never seen an advertisement for these devices to be used on entertainment phonographs, but I'd be happy to learn otherwise.

George P.

[FloridaClay]

Thanks for your observations George.

I think it may have been repainted, albeit a long time ago. Notice the little drip where the horn chain attachment ring is mounted. There are two other drips/runs in other places as well that I would not expect to see on a factory finish. I can't find the outline of a decal beneath the paint though.

I thought it must be fairly early, given that it is what came to be a fairly common design and the patent was still pending when it was made. The last part of the horn neck is a separate piece, but looks professionally done. It is a short length of brass tubing I think, of the right diameter to fit the usual rubber connector leading to an Edison reproducer. It is interesting to note that the picture on the Tea Tray decal seems to show a brass neck at the end.

If I knew for sure it was a Tea Tray horn, I would try to get a decal for it, but given the questions will just leave it as is. I would not want to mislead a future owner.

Clay

[Le0]

I'm a little puzzled by the "Pat. App'd For" stamp on that particular horn, Clay. The small end appears to be constructed of a tube soldered into the body of the horn. Whenever I've seen the PAF stamping, the horn has had a formed end (which is what was eventually patented on August 22, 1905). This horn doesn't seem to have any patentable features.

Is it possible that the present tube at the small end was added later and the horn's body repainted? If so, it's probable that your horn is a Tea Tray Company product. (If repainted, it may have originally sported a red rectangular decal on one side. Perhaps you can see an outline. If so, it's definitely a Tea Tray.)

hornTTlargedecal.jpg

As you surmised, the other piece is a volume control. When these turn up, they're usually missing whatever muffled the sound (I've never seen a complete one!). Although many collectors use these on phonographs, I believe they were originally supplied with dictation machines. I've never seen an advertisement for these devices to be used on entertainment phonographs, but I'd be happy to learn otherwise.

George P.

Hi George,

I have a Standard horn stamped PAT APL'D FOR which has the soldered end. I'm sure it's all original.

[phonogfp]

Thanks Leo!

Now I'm wondering what that(those) patent(s) was(were); (both on Leo's horn and on Clay's horn - which is NOT a Standard Metal Manufacturing Co. product)...

George P.

[Phototone]

The patents, or patent referred to in the stamping on the horn "could" refer to a patent on a manufacturing or assembly process, and not a feature on the horn itself.

[FloridaClay]

As I think about it, and don't yet know if it was actually done, if you are making aftermarket horns it would make sense to have the neck a separate piece, so that different ones could be used to make the horn fit different makes of phonographs.

Clay

[phonogfp]

The patents, or patent referred to in the stamping on the horn "could" refer to a patent on a manufacturing or assembly process, and not a feature on the horn itself.

Phototone, you may well be right.

Clay,
The size of the small ends of virtually all horns for front-mounted cylinder talking machines was standardized. One notable exception was the BC Graphophone, which required a larger horn oriface to accommodate its Higham reproducer. There are also a few Edison Automatic reproducers whose tubes are of slightly larger diameter (currently a mystery). And of course there are the oddball machines with dedicated horns such as the "Wizard," the "Rectorphone," the "Echophone," etc. Aside from these few exceptions, virtually any horn for a cylinder talking machine will be interchangeable between brands.

George P.

[phonogfp]

It is interesting to note that the picture on the Tea Tray decal seems to show a brass neck at the end.

Clay

I hope I didn't give the wrong idea about the small oriface. The earliest Tea Tray horns indeed used straight brass tubes in the small end of the horn. Around 1904 the small end on TTCo. horns became formed and crimped, and this is one of the two patents issued to the company on Aug. 22, 1905.

An article on identifying the cylinder talking machine horns of various companies appeared in the December 2012 issue of The Antique Phonograph.

George P.

[FloridaClay]

It is interesting to note that the picture on the Tea Tray decal seems to show a brass neck at the end.

Clay

I hope I didn't give the wrong idea about the small oriface. The earliest Tea Tray horns indeed used straight brass tubes in the small end of the horn. Around 1904 the small end on TTCo. horns became formed and crimped, and this is one of the two patents issued to the company on Aug. 22, 1905.

An article on identifying the cylinder talking machine horns of various companies appeared in the December 2012 issue of The Antique Phonograph.

George P.

Wondering if the one I have might be one of those that predate the change to a formed and crimped neck then?

And thanks for the reminder about the December 2012 article. I have retrieved my copy and will be rereading it today. I read it when it came out, but alas my memory for recalling what I saw where is not what it once was.

Clay