Masterphone Talking Machine

[IanCrouch]

Can anyone help me with any information regarding a "Masterphone talking Machine" manufactured by the Boston Piano and& Music Co. that I recently bought and am about to restore. The only info I could find was regarding a lawsuit with the abovementioned company (see below)

"Complaint No.277 (May 27, 1919).--Federal Trade Commission v. Boston Piano & Music Co. Charge: Using unfair methods of competition in connection with the sale of talking machines by purchasing talking machines under the brand name of “Masterphone”; selling such machines by the use of a sales plan, consisting of false representations and fraudulent schemes and practices, such as providing the salesmen with what purports to be order blanks, which are in reality, when signed, binding contracts of purchase; extravagant statements regarding the quality and nature of the machine and records, the facility with which they may be disposed of, the representation that machines are sent on approval, and that respondent operates its own factory; that under respondent's plan a dealer can lose no money; that respondent will conduct an advertising campaign for the benefit of such dealers; and that the salesmen will return and lend their personal aid in a selling campaign, in alleged violation of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission act."

I believe that they may have been bought out by Victrola?

Thanks for any help

Ian

[JohnM]

To begin with and to make things clearer in general, 'Victrola' was not a company, but rather a general type of phonograph made by the Victor Talking Machine Company.

In 1917, the fundamental patents held by Victor that allowed that company to control the manufacture and sale of lateral disc machines and records in the US began to expire. This allowed anyone that could make or brand a cabinet to get into the business, and hundreds of brands popped up like mushrooms. More often than not, these machines were of low quality with generic motors and sound hardware. Your Masterphone is one of those, and apparently one of the more unscrupulous ones at that.

Other than the Burt Company, a record manufacturer that Victor bought strategically in the company's earliest days (and subsequently sold), Victor never bought anything. They didn't have to because they controlled the market. If you displeased or infringed you were promptly sued and either enjoined or forced into bankruptcy. Masterphone had nothing Victor wanted and since Masterphone was within rights to make and sell after 1917, I can assure you that they weren't purchased by the Victor Talking Machine Company.


Not that the sordid story of Masterphone is not a part of phonograph history, but machines of this nature are seldom important, innovative, or interesting enough to be valued highly by the collecting community.

John M

[IanCrouch]

Thanks for your comments John.

Your logic makes a lot of sense!

It was interesting to see that one of the "fraudulent" claims was concerned with quality issues. The item that I have is still working very well almost 100 years later and its sound reproduction almost on par with my HMV tabletop gramophone.

Maybe its rarity is because all the others sold by the Boston Piano & Music Co. didn't last as long - or maybe the lawsuit closed them down pretty smartly.

Regards Ian

[JohnM]

The law suit may very well have something to do with it. They probably didn't sell many at all.

Here's a link to an article on Tim Gracyk's site listing a number of minor manufacturers:

http://www.gracyk.com/makers.shtml

Congratulations! The 'Masterphone' isn't on the list! LOL!

John M

[brianu]

just to note, as john probably made clear, that small piece of "wisdom" that so often evades the typical ebay seller... uncommon or rare does not always equate to collectible (or in other words, highly valuable). for example, the most expensive phonograph to be had on ebay at the moment...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-TROUBADOUR- ... tsupported

$5000??? granted, I've never seen one of these exact machines before, but again... the cabinet and its finish is generic and not in fabulous shape, the motor and sound hardware also is pretty generic and not the best (compared to other better performers put out by victor, edison, even columbia). I've seen such machines sell at auctions, on ebay and privately for $100 to possibly $300, if not less... or maybe a little more if exceptionally nice and well-restored (so basically, playing like new).

still though, yours seems to be a nice example of one of those off-brand machines... and even though its maker was just part of the pack trying to keep up with the monopolizing giants, it's still an interesting part of the early history of recorded sound... so long as you didn't pay too much for it and you're happy with it, then you should stay happy with it. and, hell, for what it's worth, it's definitely rare if you consider the difficulty of finding another just like it (compared to say, going on a search for a victor VV-XI... an excellent machine, but in all sense of the words, "readily available").

[MordEth]

I’m rather curious about The Boston Piano & Music Co., Inc. (which seemed to be based out of Iowa, ironically, according to the search results that I read). Unfortunately, there doesn’t really seem to be much online except information in relation to lawsuit(s). I’d assume that with the name they used, they would have hailed from Boston, not Iowa City and Chicago.

Does anyone know anything more about this company?

— MordEth

[JohnM]

I just noticed that the reproducer indicates that it was manufactured under the 'Manophone' brand. If the reproducer is original to the machine, then likely all the audio hardware (and perhaps the motor as well ) was supplied by the Manoil Manufacturing Co., that produced the 'Manophone' line. The entire machine may be a re-badged 'Manophone' for that matter! I can't say if Manoil actually produced these parts/machines or simply distributed them, but I have seen a fair number of Manophones over the years, so they did achieve some degree of market penetration.

I found this short wikipedia article when I Googled 'Manoil Company' -- I am assuming it is the same company or at least the same principals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manoil_Manufacturing_Co.
Skill at die-casting would be a common factor(?)

One of the tallest, most ornate cabinets I've ever seen was a gutted Manophone in very poor condition in an antique mall in Johnson City, Tennessee a few years back. At one time, it was an unbelievably elegant machine, but the years had not been kind. It sat there for two or three years before eventually being sold.

So, based an that one clue on the reproducer, if original and I am assuming it is (which I apologize I failed to notice the first time) we can infer quite a bit more information about your 'Masterphone'.

I cannot close without noting that with the names 'Masterphone', 'Manophone', and espescially 'Manoil' associated, this machine borders on the pornographic with just a little imagination and humor!

John M

[IanCrouch]

John - you are good!

The reproducer indeed looks original, and a quick search netted a very similar "Manophone" (and at a ridiculous price!).

Thanks for all the interest and comments from the experts

Regards
Ian

[gramophoneshane]

The soundbox, speed control, brake & crank all look like Thorens products to me. I wonder if Thorens may have supplied the parts, or if their designs were just copied.
It would be interesting to know what the motor is branded as.

[IanCrouch]

Hi Shane

Attached a photo of the motor and the inscription that is on one of the plates. Does this still look like a Thorens product?

Regards
Ian