Cement edison phonograph!

[Brad]

I wonder if the cement phonograph in the picture survives somewhere. Maybe somebody managed to convert it into a garden fountain.

There is an article in this month's ITG about Edisons cement phonographs. Edison shipped one to Henry Ford and it cracked apart in shipping. The article said that Edison was working on a lighter stronger form of concrete as the original were too heavy and prone to shipping damage. The article seem to suggest there were no survivors

[richardh]

The photograph in my book is a little clearer than my scan and it is a mandral you can see. I wonder how practical this machine was to use. For a start you'd have to be very careful that you didn't knock your cylinder against the cement case putting it on the mandral. Also it looks a bit tight for room in there so how would you reach in to lower the reproducer...and as to what you'd do in the event of a broken mainspring....well I can't imagine!!

But it is nice to look at though.....even if it is impractical.

RJ

[Kelley2544]

I'm new to the board, but couldn't help commenting on the cement phonograph. If I remember correctly, Edison was trying to promote his Portland Cement any way he could and making phonograph cabinets was one of them.

The disadvantages of the cemement cabinet are obvious. First is the weight issue. Could you imagine trying to lift/move one of these things? Second was if not careful, if someone dropped the lid on the cabinet the corners would chip/break off. I don't think they moved beyond the prototype stage. If one of these exixts, I would sure like to see it.

Thanks,

Kelley

[Kirkwood]

The design of these concrete cabinets is super! Too bad that Edison was so wedded to the concept of executing these in concrete. Even in his day, there was widespread use of plaster, or wire-reinforced or fibre-reinforced plaster for a number of decorative objects, including column capitals, table lamps, floor lamps and chandeliers. Even using a wooden core with a plaster over-lay was already being done. Yes, the stuff chips easily, and it isn't much stronger but it would have been somewhat lighter than concrete. He would have been able to achieve a finer level of detail in the figure and decorative elements as well. I can't think that the cylinder model was intended to be all of one piece construction, likely there was a base, then the mechanism in its housing, then the figural horn. But none of us were there to see it, so who knows now? Of course, if there WAS a survivor, we'd probably already be seeing replicas being made overseas in polyester resin----using up innocent little Standard mechanisms for the player!

[richardh]

......Of course, if there WAS a survivor, we'd probably already be seeing replicas being made overseas in polyester resin----using up innocent little Standard mechanisms for the player!

Right now someone, somewhere in China is reading this and thanking you for the idea! Brace yourself for a flooding of the market with resin statuesque phonos!

RJ