The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A discussion on another thread got me curious about a side issue with respect to horns. Is there any reliable information on the percentage of phonographs that went home from the dealers with aftermarket horn upgrades instead of with the original equipment horns? I am guessing that it was pretty common.

Clay

A relatively rare practice for disc machines, but an entirely different story for cylinder machines - especially Edison. See the article titled "Collecting Antique Phonographs" here:

http://www.antiquephono.org/collecting- ... ographs-2/

Basically every larger trumpet-style or morning glory cylinder horn you see without an "Edison" decal is evidence of a transaction in which the original equipment was improved. It was a very common practice for cylinder machine buyers.

I don't recall seeing any statistics in the Talking Machine World (where they would certainly have appeared), but I'm estimating that half or more of all Edison Phonograph purchases prior to October 1907 included a larger aftermarket horn. I base this on the number of surviving larger horns in light of their susceptibility to damage, neglect, and recycling, plus the number of aftermarket horn suppliers (Hawthorne & Sheble alone claimed over 200 styles and sizes of horns in its catalog). Tea Tray and the Standard Metal Manufacturing Company were nearly as large, to say nothing of all the smaller companies.

George P.

Read the article. An enjoyable overview.

Clay

Glad you liked it, Clay.

Even some of the "Introductory" website articles like "Collecting Antique Phonographs" may cover a perspective (such as cylinder vs. disc aftermarket horns) not found in other (often more advanced) works.

George P.

phonogfp wrote:Glad you liked it, Clay.

Even some of the "Introductory" website articles like "Collecting Antique Phonographs" may cover a perspective (such as cylinder vs. disc aftermarket horns) not found in other (often more advanced) works.

George P.

Yes, I had noticed that, but not thought it through. The answer, that disk machines shipped with larger horns in the first place, now seems obvious once I read the article.

Clay

My Victor III was purchased new with a green Tea Tray Co. horn, I purchased it from the original family. I like it because it's unusual.