The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Interesting... with "disappearing" storage door...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-early-M ... 2a4cc19fbd


When I read the listing, "Meteor" and "Piqua, O." rang a bell...

Check this out - about nine paragraphs down the article...

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/m/meteor/meteor.htm

"Meteor pioneered the direct sales of funeral vehicles by monthly mailings to all of the nations funeral homes and through advertisements in the popular funeral magazines such as Casket & Sunnyside, Mortuary Management and American Funeral Director."

Meteor made this machine with a dual purpose in mind... If you bought the deluxe model, it could be converted to a casket at the owner's death and outfitted with specially designed carrying handles. The phrase: "You CAN take it with you...", became their advertising mantra, "because even in the afterlife you still need music". Meteor headstones were also made depicting your favorite record or recording artist...

My favorite quote from the Coachbuilt Car article was this:

"Although Meteor termed itself "The Star of the Talking Machine World," the label didn't survive past the early 1920s when a Meteor-sponsored float appeared in a Piqua civic parade bearing the slogan "Kills'em with Music and Hauls'em Away"

Curt A wrote:"Meteor pioneered the direct sales of funeral vehicles by monthly mailings to all of the nations funeral homes and through advertisements in the popular funeral magazines such as Casket & Sunnyside, Mortuary Management and American Funeral Director."

Meteor made this machine with a dual purpose in mind... If you bought the deluxe model, it could be converted to a casket at the owner's death and outfitted with specially designed carrying handles. The phrase: "You CAN take it with you...", became their advertising mantra, "because even in the afterlife you still need music". Meteor headstones were also made depicting your favorite record or recording artist...

That's a bit creepy. "You CAN take it with you..."

Curt A wrote:"Meteor pioneered the direct sales of funeral vehicles by monthly mailings to all of the nations funeral homes and through advertisements in the popular funeral magazines such as Casket & Sunnyside, Mortuary Management and American Funeral Director."

Meteor made this machine with a dual purpose in mind... If you bought the deluxe model, it could be converted to a casket at the owner's death and outfitted with specially designed carrying handles. The phrase: "You CAN take it with you...", became their advertising mantra, "because even in the afterlife you still need music". Meteor headstones were also made depicting your favorite record or recording artist...

The "deluxe" model must have been pretty damn tall...

or perhaps they assumed you wouldn't mind being buried in a fetal position...

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:

Curt A wrote:"Meteor pioneered the direct sales of funeral vehicles by monthly mailings to all of the nations funeral homes and through advertisements in the popular funeral magazines such as Casket & Sunnyside, Mortuary Management and American Funeral Director."

Meteor made this machine with a dual purpose in mind... If you bought the deluxe model, it could be converted to a casket at the owner's death and outfitted with specially designed carrying handles. The phrase: "You CAN take it with you...", became their advertising mantra, "because even in the afterlife you still need music". Meteor headstones were also made depicting your favorite record or recording artist...

The "deluxe" model must have been pretty damn tall...

or perhaps they assumed you wouldn't mind being buried in a fetal position...

Bill

Or perhaps it would give a whole new (and macabre) meaning to a "hack job"...

Andreas