The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi, any information on these pieces would be helpful. Very interesting early phonograph items. Interested in who may have made them and their age.

Thanks
Dustin

These were used to carry master cylinders about recording studios, and also offices during the early days of Class M's being used in the office. Below is a Native American ethnographic recording session by Geoffrey O'Hara. This is a very rare photo of a studio recording head, a similar recorder as I have, If you note he is adjusting the advance ball on the recorder. The Carriage is a little different than the few I have seen.

Very interesting. Thank you for the info and the picture. This has helped a lot for my museum.

Please tell us about your museum?

I've posted the link once before. It's a little Edison Phonograph Museum in Texas. I do presentations for groups, and just started doing brown wax recording demonstrations. Setting up now to do presentations at schools. PhonoINC.wordpress.com

Those record holders can be seen in Graphophone illustrations from 1889 onward - but always with circular bases. They were listed for sale ($1.00) in Graphophone catalogs starting in 1897 and onward through at least 1904. The 1906 catalog does not show one, but I cannot vouch for 1905. I've never seen one of these record holders offered in any Edison literature.

Here's a photo of another one. The numbers on this one are simply painted on, and the pegs do not have a hole in the top.

Also shown is the 1904 Columbia catalog showing the rack. I've seen a few racks with square bases (like those pictured in this thread), but never one with a circular base.

George P.

Gotcha, that is interesting as well. The numbers appear to be decals on the one I photographed. The center knob appears larger like the one on the o'hara photo vs the one with painted numbers. Very similar construction though.

Here are a few more.

The first one has branded, or indented numbers. The second has painted numbers, and the third, rectangular one has no numbers at all! The circular foot at the base of each cylinder peg on the two caddies with handles is think, dark green felt. Presumably to protect the record.

George, I too have not yet seen a round bottom one!

Shawn

The minor variations among these racks is interesting. For whatever it's worth, the pegs on mine are ringed with hard rubber (at least they're hard now!). Looks like Dustie's are as well.

George P.

George you're correct. They are hard rubber. It is very interesting in the variations.