The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

While at the Wayne show I bought an interesting and mysterious finger-joined box. It measures 16” long x 9.5” wide x 3.5” deep. On its lid and on each end is an embossed/painted legend, “Accessories for the Talking Machine.” There are 11 compartments inside, whose wooden dividers are secured by numerous brass screws. It wasn’t made to be carried around (the lid simply rests on top), but the markings suggest it was displayed, so I can only presume it was a dealer item.

I'd love to learn that this box once contained a "variety pack" including things like needles, dusters, needle boxes for new/used, lubricants, polish, sound box mounted record brushes, disc record repeaters, replacement sound boxes, etc. offered to dealers for resale. That seems the most likely explanation (I can't think of another plausible use for it), but I have so far found no documentation to support this thought.

Hawthorne & Sheble manufactured & distributed a wide variety of talking machine accessories for sale by dealers, so I may populate the box with some of the firm's products for display.

In any event, here it is...

George P.

Very nice!
Thanks for the pictures!
Bob

That's neat, George.

I hope that someone chimes in on it with a bit of history.

Fran

I have no idea what it was originally for, but I love it.....

I've never seen one of those before, can't be very common

Thanks for the nice comments, guys.

Years ago, my colleague and book co-author commented that I was a "box guy." He was right. I like boxes - especially those with graphics/lettering. I'm a sucker for an early shipping crate, reproducer box, disc or cylinder record box, or "mystery" box as seen here.

George P.