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I'm close to get a pic of the machine that prompted my question, and thanks to the discussion, I now know what it is.

It is an early C with the Prescott celluloid plaque. It has a black funnel horn - ? mark if it was original to the machine, or off an early berliner - and a CJ style reproducer. Owner is not a fan of putting pics of his collection on the internet as he has in the past seen them reappear on a variety of sales platforms, like ebay / craigslist.

If you want to see a picture of a most spectacular Zonophone there is a picture of the european luxury model which has brass inay in art nouveau style on Yankee Trader. Owner is looking for a motor.

US PHONO wrote:I'm close to get a pic of the machine that prompted my question, and thanks to the discussion, I now know what it is.

It is an early C with the Prescott celluloid plaque. It has a black funnel horn - ? mark if it was original to the machine, or off an early berliner - and a CJ style reproducer. Owner is not a fan of putting pics of his collection on the internet as he has in the past seen them reappear on a variety of sales platforms, like ebay / craigslist.

If you want to see a picture of a most spectacular Zonophone there is a picture of the european luxury model which has brass inay in art nouveau style on Yankee Trader. Owner is looking for a motor.

It would be most helpful to know the serial number of that Clark-Johnson sound box. A PM would be appreciated if preferred to a public posting. Thanks!

George P.

US PHONO wrote:I'm close to get a pic of the (Zonophone) machine that prompted my question, and thanks to the discussion, I now know what it is.

It is an early 'C' with the Prescott celluloid plaque.

That's good to know, and finding out the stamped serial number on the bedplate will be very helpful. Look also at the diameter of the speed adjustment knob. Also, the horizontal arm on the first models are made of 2 different metals (steel/brass) which are joined by an almost invisible seam, 1-¼" in from the front (pivot) end.

The exact wording on the celluloid plate (1" by 2-½") should be noted.

Allen

Collectors will be glad to know that the next issue (June) of 'The Antique Phonograph' is now at the printer's.

Naturally, Murphy's Law dictates that a couple of late-breaking details didn't make it into this version (re the history of Zonophone).

It has long been thought that the first front-mounted horns on Zonophones (May 1900) had the leather elbow (to the reproducer), but a closer reading of the ads (and other evidence) shows that the first models sold to the public (A, B, C) had a closely-fitted brass elbow (no set-screw yet), usually painted black when used with the black-japanned horn. The knurled knob on the brass-style horns was invented by Valiquet and dates from 1902 and after.

A closer reading also of the various patents shows that the Universal Talking Machine Co. was already experimenting with counter-balanced weights to lessen the drag of the horn assembly on the record (even the feedscrew type). Thus, the machine that will appear on the cover may well have been a prototype. Hopefully, once the article, and its illustrations, circulates more widely (in print), other examples will surface.

We'll keep you posted. Thanks again for all the assistance here.

Allen