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In 1894, George Tewksbury patented a repeating mechanism that was the best of its day, and it was used in several coin-operated talking machines of the 1890s. In the trade, this was often called a "Kansas" repeater, since it initially appeared on coin-operated phonographs offered by the Kansas City Talking Machine Company. Within a year or two, Tewksbury Repeaters were being offered by the United States Phonograph Company in Newark, New Jersey. By around 1900, other repeaters began to supplant it, but undoubtedly many Tewksburys remained in use well into the 1900s. It's a robust design, solid and dependable, but must have been too costly to compete with simpler Edison and Graphophone designs that appeared in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

So why would a collector - even an avid collector - need a Tewksbury repeater? That's what I thought - until recently when I stumbled across a cabinet for an 1890s coin-op phonograph. Getting the playing mechanism was no problem - - but the missing Tewksbury repeater? Virtually impossible.

After I pursued a number of dead ends, a very kind collector offered to have his Tewksbury repeater reproduced for me. I am most grateful for his help, and we are currently making arrangements with a first-class craftsman (and phonograph collector) to develop a perfect replica of the original Tewksbury Repeater pictured below.

Here's the question: Would anyone else like to add a Tewksbury Repeater to his/her collection of antique phonographs? I would offer them at actual cost of manufacture - I'm not looking for profit beyond the economies of scale. The more we make, the less expensive each one will be. Still, this is an esoteric item, and I'm guessing that only a diehard collector would be interested in something like this. If you're one of us crazies, drop me a PM.

At this point, I don't know the cost of a finished repeater. I'm guessing it will be in the neighborhood of $1500. The machinist says he seriously doubts costs would reach $2000. Final cost will of course be determined by how many are made. Frankly, I'd be delighted to have just the one and pay the full cost, just to finish this 1897 coin-op. (By the way, the coin-op cabinet had served to display a collection of ceramic animals in a couple's suburban living room for the past 50 years!)

If you'd be interested in learning more, just let me know. There's no obligation to have your name added to a list. Once I have a better idea of the exact cost, I'll inform all interested parties and at that point each can decide if they're in or out. If enough of us are interested, the cost could drop dramatically.

One thing is nearly certain: it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a Tewksbury Repeater!

George P.

If one repeater is about $1500, is it possible to find out the cost per unit for two, four, eight, etc. You might generate more interest if, for example, the cost per unit if four were made is $1200 each. Just a thought... Jerry

Jerry B. wrote:If one repeater is about $1500, is it possible to find out the cost per unit for two, four, eight, etc. You might generate more interest if, for example, the cost per unit if four were made is $1200 each. Just a thought... Jerry

Jerry, I'm waiting for exactly that information, and will pass it along as soon as I have it.

George P.

Sent you a PM

We're finally ready to have some of these Tewksbury Repeaters fabricated. The original is now in the hands of the machinist (a first-rate craftsman whose work I've seen and can vouch for) and he's ready to begin.

I promised more information when I had it. This morning I received an email from the machinist with his estimate of $1500-2000 apiece for a group of 4. These 4 are spoken for, but if you'd like to add your name to the list, perhaps we can lower the cost further through economies of scale.

If you'd like one of these repeaters, please contact me; obviously the sooner the better.

Thanks for your patience and best wishes to all - -

George P.

Just a little more background information on the Tewksbury Repeater that I failed to include in my original posting:

The Tewksbury (or "Kansas") repeater was found in coin-operated phonographs using an Edison upper works (primarily the Class M mechanism) for over a decade (ca. 1894 - ca. 1905). See page 38 of Discovering Antique Phonographs for an early example of an Edison coin-op using this repeater from approx. 1894/95. On page 52 of the same book is an 1896/97 example from the Empire State Phonograph Company. Finally, on page 81 of A World of Antique Phonographs you can see a 1905 example of this repeater being used in a British coin-op.

Thanks,

George P.