The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Here are two phonograph adverts that John happened across and opted to share with me a while ago.

The first is an Edison ad, and while having Oriental art, the text is in English:

The EDISON PHONOGRAPH

Is equally delightful in entertaining a crowd of friends or in helping you pass a few hours by yourself. It renders a plaintive ballad or lively waltz, a comic song or a rousing march, an instrumental solo or a funny story with a clearness and fidelity that is remarkable and almost beyond belief. Put it to the test. Go to the nearest Edison store and hear the new Edison model with the big horn. Let the dealer play for you some of the new Records for March, which include seven records by Harry Lauder. Out February 25th.

Ask your dealer or write to us for the new catalogue of Edison Phonographs; The Phonogram, describing each Record in detail; the Supplemental Catalogue, listing the new March Records, and the Complete Catalogue, listing all Edison Records now in existence.

RECORDS IN ALL FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

National Phonograph Company, 11 Lakeside Avenue, Orange, N.J.

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And of course, a Victor advert, which is actually in Japanese:

I’ll add the Japanese translation (or some attempt thereof) after I figure out the kanji (6 of the first 7 characters still elude me).

Enjoy.

— MordEth

Both ads are wonderful ! Thank you for sharing. From the date of issue of Harry Lauder's records I derive that the Edison ad dates 1908.

Starkton wrote:Both ads are wonderful ! Thank you for sharing. From the date of issue of Harry Lauder's records I derive that the Edison ad dates 1908.

I'm sure you're right - - the ad mentions "...the new Edison model with the big horn." The large flower horns were supplied from October 1907, so this makes sense. February 1908.

George P.

George, Starkton,

Thanks for confirming the date of the Edison advert.

I decided that it might be interesting to cut out the Edison advert (i.e. for the stock avatar gallery), and so here are two transparencies of it:

Hopefully some of our other members have some interesting advertising to share—I hope to get up more adverts as well.

— MordEth