The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

While going through my computer I came across some images of a machine I missed out on. I gave up at around 8K and I think it went for around 11K. Marked Universal Talking Machine co. The horn appeard to be rubber, but didn't look to be original to the machine. It appears to be a trademark machine converted to coin operation.

This is one of the holy grails of talking machine collectors.

The Universal Talking Machine Co. was founded in early 1898 to create a coin-in-the-slot machine based on a Berliner gramophone. It was designed and patented by Louis Philippe Valiquet. Here is the patent of 28 October 1898: http://www.google.de/patents/US631911?p ... 11&f=false

The Berliner Gramophone Co. didn't object to Valiquet's machine which cost $50, but it proved to be impossible to sell more than a few specimen.

I believe this model was offered for sale by Montgomery Ward and is in the 1898 catalog being offered (copy) by Shawn in the Yankee Trader. I know of 4 in North America.

Montgomery Ward did indeed offer this model - I have it in an original catalog.

I'm amazed this machine went for only approx. $11,000. I'd give my left...earlobe...for one.

George P.

It was on auctionzip with those tiny thumbnails. Auction was south of Johnstown PA about a year ago. It wasn't a featured item as the auctioneer had no idea of the value and figured he might get about $50 for it before the auction. They were auctioning off the contents of a city owned building and said it had been there since the early '70s.

Actually, this machine and the auction was posted on this forum back then. I think the same pics you posted were also posted. Maybe the new owner will post pics of the machine as it looks now. That would be nice.

Article to come in 2013 in the Antique Phonograph. It works amazingly well. Check out the video I've posted on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BT2-LEyZyw This video,or a future version will be part of the article as well.

Shawn

Very cool Shawn. Thanks for sharing such a great rare machine.

Shawn wrote:Check out the video I've posted on YouTube.

Excellent and highly instructive video! This is an amazing machine. Was it the first coin-in-the-slot gramophone in the US?

Its from 1898. We believe it(the model not this specific machine)to be the first coin-op disk machine produced.

Shawn