The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I received a suggention that I might find the expertise I'm looking for in this forum. And if I play nice, some possible answers, too. So, here goes.....

I am trying to identify the person standing beside Thomas Edison in the photograph attached. It is a lithographed photo printed on thin paper ~ a publicity shot I'm sure, and aside typewritten name, is autographed on both sides by... well, that's why I'm here. I see Thomas Alva, of course ~ it is the other fellow that perplexes me. I just can't read the signature The reverse reads as follows:


"Thank you Miss Helga Green. You have heard my voice, and listened to my words - now here's my face. Not much of a face, but I have used it for 60 years. (mumblemuttermumble) "

Is that Sherman Cox? Or Herman Fox? Or someone else? Is he a recording artist? A singer or Monologist? Care to guess how many Google hits you get for searching "edison artist fox"?

An online discography could help if I could find one. Ever so thankful for any input regarding this matter. ~ Bob

More photos:

...a close-up

... last one ~ sorry if these are too large.

The first name looks like it might be "Truman"...Googling "Truman Cox" and "Fox", etc. Didn't turn up much.

Sean

I searched my lists of recording artists in the domestic popular Blue Amberol and Diamond Disc record series (no foreign or classical), but found nothing. The only Cox was Marion Cox. No Fox.

VintageTechnologies wrote:I searched my lists of recording artists in the domestic popular Blue Amberol and Diamond Disc record series (no foreign or classical), but found nothing. The only Cox was Marion Cox. No Fox.

tried pox?

The first name looks like "Truman" to me. If that's so, then the surname must also begin with a "T", but I can't imagine "Tox" was anyones' name!

Can't quite make out the signature , but here's a a rough transcription of the message:

"Shame you Miss
Strega (Green?)
You have heard
my voice, and
listened to my
words - now
here's my face.
Not much of a
face, but I have(?)
used (in? it?) for (??)
years."

Bill

Thanks for the input thus far and the sleuthing some are doing ~ a tad disheartening that we seem to be no closer to an answer.

I didn't expect this gent would turn out to be a household name today ~ kind of an Edwardian Pia Zadora is what I expect him to be; some contemporary notoriety, but little chance for lasting fame. But that stylized signature is very perplexing. My first guess was 'Freeman Fox', but after finding no hits there I'm starting to feel like I'm looking at one of those optical art prints where, as you stare at it, a totally different image appears, only to disappear before I can grasp it.

And to Bill ~ you got a couple words wrong. Hope you didn't strain to hard trying to make it out (see my first post above) But thanks for trying.