The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Just wondering if anyone knows what kind of phonograph this is. I have searched everywhere. The problem is I went there to see it and I could not find the serial number or brand. The tag on the lid says The John Church Company. The arm is made by Fletcher. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Ron

Poor thing, lying on its side like that.

I am certainly no expert, but it looks quite a bit like a Silvertone I saw recently. I could be wrong, but that is what it looks like to me.

Just one of a jillion low-cost generic machines made between 1917-1924.

It's a machine made to be sold by the John Church Co - so it's a John Church.

There was a John Church Company that was a major music publishing house, and was in fact, the original publisher for much of John Philip Sousa's music....

Wonder if this is the same outfit ?

As for the machine itself, probably a "client machine", churned-out by one of the Chicago jobbers...


Can you get a look at the motor ?

Since it says it's a Fletcher, (apparently sold by the John Church Co.), my advice would be that it's a Fletcher.

Based on the machine's position in the photo......I would say it plays "horizontally"..... .

This may be of some help. The picture at the bottom is of a Fletcher Reproducer, does it look like the one you saw in your photo?

http://keithwright.ca/CAPP/McLagan/McLagan%20page2.html

Fletcher was like Heinemann - they supplied parts for many makes. Good reproducers.