The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Harvey sent me these pics to post and wondered if anyone could shed light on the O'Neill-James connection or provide more info...

Thank you Curt for posting this for me. I saw it at my monthly radio and phonograph meeting in Seattle last Sunday. At first, I thought it was a typical hum-drum off brand machine. When I saw that decal, and for $50.00, wow. I do know that O'Neill-James was a distributor for Columbia and H & S Talking machines. I'm curious if this machine came out after the horned machines were phased out? Or, was this their attempt to market their own line of machines?
Harvey Kravitz

To quote the Fabrizio-Paul Compendium:

"Into 1913, O'Neill continued to distribute a 'new hornless disc Graphophone', and a considerable catalogue of double-faced records including some 12". He announced his intention to place 100,000 of these 'Aretino' machines that year. However by 1916 the Consolidated Talking Machine Company was listing itself as the successor to both O'Neill firms."

So, presumably, the "Wondrola" comes from this same late period....

Bill

PS: Is that a 'universal" type reproducer, or does it only play vertical records?

Bill, The way the reproducer is set up, it is for Pathé records. I'm sure there is an attachment for lateral records. Thanks for shedding light on this. Anymore info will be great.
Harvey Kravitz