Standard?
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2014 8:43 am
What is this?
This plate denotes that this Edison Standard was imported to the UK through the Edison Bell Consolodated Phonograph Company.
They had started in 1892 as the Edison Bell Phongraph Company (With no direct link to Edison) buying certain patents from Thomas Edison to dominate the market in Britain for the next ten or so years.
All machines imported would have this extra aluminium plate applied either to the bedplate, or on Gems, to the front of the case.
The company also imported many European models similarly badged.
In 1904 (with the expiry of the patents) they started to manufacture their own models, roughly based on Edisons (The Imp, Elf, Don and Era), ceasing manufacture of cylinder machines in 1913.
The company continued in existance until 1931.
This forum's "Martinola" has written some interesting articles, including one covering plates for the Antique Phonograph Society which is linked under the "Society" heading.