The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

fran604g wrote:

phonogfp wrote:I don't think there's any question about authenticity.

Egad - I really like that crate!

George P.

I'm thinking that George Tewkesbury would be pretty surprised to see that people are still buying his North American Phonographs!

I love that the "box" for it is still with the machine AND the crate! How amazing...

Fran

Fran, I see that you've been reading your copy of the Proceedings of the 1890 Convention of the Local Phonograph Companies. Gives you a new appreciation for the "Motor Phonograph" doesn't it?

For me, it's quite interesting to see how the Class M Phonographs were crated for shipment; with the heavy mechanism resting on ledges toward the bottom of the crate (keeping the center of gravity low), and the more delicate mahogany cabinet ("box") packed above. This makes perfect sense, but frankly I never gave the topic much thought.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:

fran604g wrote:

phonogfp wrote:I don't think there's any question about authenticity.

Egad - I really like that crate!

George P.

I'm thinking that George Tewkesbury would be pretty surprised to see that people are still buying his North American Phonographs!

I love that the "box" for it is still with the machine AND the crate! How amazing...

Fran

Fran, I see that you've been reading your copy of the Proceedings of the 1890 Convention of the Local Phonograph Companies. Gives you a new appreciation for the "Motor Phonograph" doesn't it?

For me, it's quite interesting to see how the Class M Phonographs were crated for shipment; with the heavy mechanism resting on ledges toward the bottom of the crate (keeping the center of gravity low), and the more delicate mahogany cabinet ("box") packed above. This makes perfect sense, but frankly I never gave the topic much thought.

George P.

Yes George, it does! I just finished it last night.

I'm surprised how many Phonographs and Phonograph-Graphophones were actually in use at the time!

The end of the proceedings when a few of the members were commenting on their experiences is fascinating. It seems like the majority were actually very optimistic about the (uncertain) future of things, while only hoping for a combined machine. I think we all know how that eventually ended up!

Pretty neat reading about the nickel-in-slot developments, too, especially the discussion between Louis Glass and Felix Gottschalk, they certainly weren't friends, IMO.

Thank you again for the book!

Best,
Fran

The proceedings are very interesting. I remember there was some members who were not in favor of the Phonograph-Graphophone as an entertainment machine, as they thought an office aid was more noteworthy than entertainment, and they almost passed a resolution to ban music recording.

edisonphonoworks wrote:The proceedings are very interesting. I remember there was some members who were not in favor of the Phonograph-Graphophone as an entertainment machine, as they thought an office aid was more noteworthy than entertainment, and they almost passed a resolution to ban music recording.

One of the members of the convention went so far as to say that they didn't want businessmen to see the machine(s) as trivial "toys" that were only used for entertainment. One member explained how he segregated the two machines in separate rooms to exhibit them to prospective customers. Funny stuff, considering that if it weren't for entertainment, the futures of the Phonograph and Graphophone might have eventually been relegated to only Ediphones and Dictaphones.

Imagine that world!

Fran

OK, you've got my curiosity up. Just ordered a copy of Proceedings of the 1890 Convention of the Local Phonograph Companies.

Clay

FloridaClay wrote:OK, you've got my curiosity up. Just ordered a copy of Proceedings of the 1890 Convention of the Local Phonograph Companies.

Clay

I think you'll enjoy it, Clay. For me, reading the actual conversations verbatim of the few people whose names were familiar to me is the closest thing to time travel I'll probably ever know.

I also learned quite a few more names, too.

Fran

Every time I read it, I just want to slap Chadbourne...!

George P.

phonogfp wrote:Every time I read it, I just want to slap Chadbourne...!

George P.

Yeah he was kind of a wiener! (euphemism)

pg. 64;

Mr. Easton: I would like to ask Mr. Chadbourne if he has ever learned to use either the phonograph or the graphophone.

Mr. Chadbourne: No; not very well. No; I don't think anyone else has either.

Nothing like complaining that the product was no good (and all of them were returned) when you don't even know how it works!

Fran