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As far as I can see on google the American Gramophone Company Paris only appears on this trunk nowhere else on line

get your own leather lettering set !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/362273985112

GoCOOGS! wrote:As cool as that is, they are reaching for the sky. It is cool but the fact that this trunk isn't monogrammed nor has the damier pattern limits the collectibility IMO. Yes it is cool for the provenance, but not 19k cool. Id say closer to 5-10K.

No LV patterning why not in 1910 , probably not LV !

"Louis Vuitton got his start in 1854 as a trunk-maker in Paris. ... The Monogram was first created by Louis' son, George in 1896 to stop counterfeiters from mimicking the brand's designs. The unique pattern is made up of interlocking L and V initials and flowers inspired by Japanese and Oriental designs."

soundgen wrote:so what was the American Gramophone Company Paris ?

I wonder too. Compagnie Française du Gramophone was founded by Alfred Clark in France in 1899. I can't find a record of it ever being known as the American Gramophone Company.

jamiegramo wrote:

soundgen wrote:so what was the American Gramophone Company Paris ?

I wonder too. Compagnie Française du Gramophone was founded by Alfred Clark in France in 1899. I can't find a record of it ever being known as the American Gramophone Company.

Reminds me a bit of the Mint and Boxed company which faked photos to provide provenance

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/t ... 12446.html

GoCOOGS! wrote:As cool as that is, they are reaching for the sky. It is cool but the fact that this trunk isn't monogrammed nor has the damier pattern limits the collectibility IMO. Yes it is cool for the provenance, but not 19k cool. Id say closer to 5-10K.

Closer to $100

jamiegramo wrote:

soundgen wrote:so what was the American Gramophone Company Paris ?

I wonder too. Compagnie Française du Gramophone was founded by Alfred Clark in France in 1899. I can't find a record of it ever being known as the American Gramophone Company.

"Returning to America, Berliner entered into an agreement with several New York backers and together they formed the little-known American Gramophone Company. (This organization was totally unknown until uncovered recently by the research of Raymond Wile in the 1990s. See his articles in The ARSC Journal: vol. 21, no. 1 and vol. 24, no. 2.) It proved to be premature, however, and apparently never really got off the ground. Then Berliner organized the United States Gramophone Company in Washington, D.C." FROM -- https://www.loc.gov/collections/emile-b ... ramophone/

If that's a legit trunk, this would be very rare, indeed.

OrthoFan

OrthoFan wrote:

jamiegramo wrote:

soundgen wrote:so what was the American Gramophone Company Paris ?

I wonder too. Compagnie Française du Gramophone was founded by Alfred Clark in France in 1899. I can't find a record of it ever being known as the American Gramophone Company.

"Returning to America, Berliner entered into an agreement with several New York backers and together they formed the little-known American Gramophone Company. (This organization was totally unknown until uncovered recently by the research of Raymond Wile in the 1990s. See his articles in The ARSC Journal: vol. 21, no. 1 and vol. 24, no. 2.) It proved to be premature, however, and apparently never really got off the ground. Then Berliner organized the United States Gramophone Company in Washington, D.C." FROM -- https://www.loc.gov/collections/emile-b ... ramophone/

If that's a legit trunk, this would be very rare, indeed.

OrthoFan

That is interesting and I wonder if there is any evidence of this company having a connection to Paris.

Pretty suspicious overall. Another detail that's off -- it is marked "American Gramophone Cy." The French abbreviation for 'company' is "Cie."

Or it could say 'Compagnie Américaine du Gramophone'?

The black lettering of 'American Gramophone Cy Paris' looks rather intact and fresh compared to the faded and worn leather around it. Compare this lettering to the 'L Vuitton' above that appears on the carrying handle supports.

If it is faked it is interesting how they came up with this name and not something safer and more plausible. Maybe it just sounds good for the luxury goods market... a bit like 'The American Steamship Company'... that name sounds good and adds interest.