FOR SALE: 1897-98 United States Talking Machine: $4500

[phonogfp]

If you're read my ad here for the 1896 Echophone, you already know why I'm selling something like this. Normally, this is a machine a collector can only dream of owning. Over the years, I was very, very fortunate to find two of these historic United States Talking Machines. This one has been in my collection for 7 years.

Joseph N. Brown filed for only one known U.S. Patent related to talking machines. Yet, the little device that sprang from that idea is one of the most interesting artifacts in talking machine history.

The United States Talking Machine was assembled in a hardware store building in Muskegon, Michigan. Brown himself seemed to move around a bit, according to business directories of the period. His address was sometimes listed as the same as more anchored family members. When he filed for his U.S. Patent on "Device For Reproducing Sounds" on April 22, 1897, he was operating on a shoestring. This may explain why ads for the United States Talking Machine didn't appear right away. Yet, the device that was eventually offered as the United States Talking Machine featured a list of Berliner Records - complete with catalog numbers - on the large paper label beneath its lid. Even more suggestive were the "Directions For Using The United States Talking Machine." Printed below was "National Gramophone Co., 874 Broadway, New York." There was a clear connection between Joseph N. Brown and Frank Seaman's National Gramophone Company.

Stephan Puille's excellent research uncovered some details of Seaman's agreement to supply records to Brown. This can be read on page 2 of this thread on this forum:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... e&start=10

Clearly, things didn't go as Brown had hoped.

The first examples of the United States Talking Machine were offered for $3.00. Here's an ad from the March 1898 issue of Munsey's Magazine showing the $3.00 model:

By the end of the month, the price had risen to $3.50, as shown by this ad from the March 31, 1898 issue of The Youth's Companion:

The disappearance of the United States Talking Machine was swift, and within a short period not a trace of it could be found in popular magazines.

Today, known examples of United States Talking Machines number less than a dozen. This is unfortunate, because the United States Talking Machine was the first non-Berliner gramophone offered to the public. Close on its heels would be the Wonder, followed by the 1899 Vitaphone.

The early (pre-March 1898) variation is particularly rare. It is one of these $3.00 versions that I'm offering here. Interestingly, this example was found in the same town where it was born: Muskegon, Michigan.

This United States Talking Machine is complete and fully functional. Clearly, it was exposed to water at some point in its long life, but the distinctive label is perfectly legible.

There is no motor - - the combination record clamp/crank is unscrewed from the spindle, a Berliner (or other record not exceeding 7") is placed on the turntable, and the clamp/crank screwed back on. Continuing to rotate the crank provides the motive power. Like hand-driven Berliners of similar vintage, this is not a machine noted for even reproduction!

The machine is equipped - as originally - with two ear tubes (Jean-Paul Agnard's excellent reproductions). The lid has its original cloth stay, which looks very much like a shoe-string to me! The sound vibrations are picked up through the steel needle and transferred to the solid wooden tone arm (much like the 1911 Repp Vitaphone). As the tone arm vibrates, the sound is transferred through a coiled wire which is wrapped around a gutta-percha elbow to which ear tubes are attached. Believe it or not, it works.

The original brass hasp was flimsy, and at some point was broken. It remains in place.

The original hinges on the $3.00 USTM were very flimsy. Apparently, they failed at some point and the owner of this example replaced them with these small brass models which are far more secure.

The three metal parts of this United States Talking Machine (Clamp/crank, tone arm weight, and turntable) are precise replicas cast from originals. These have been painted black like the originals, and cannot be told apart from them. Even the non-standard thread pitch of the spindle and clamp/crank has been copied. Ordinarily, a hand-driven disc talking machine from 1897-98 of which less than a dozen examples exist would command far more than I'm asking. In light of the water staining to the label and the 3 reproduction parts, the price has been adjusted accordingly.

If you're interested in adding the first non-Berliner gramophone to your collection - and be among the less than a dozen collectors to own one - just send me a PM. I'll be happy to provide additional photos and provide any background information you require.

I can deliver this machine to the Wayne shows or to Union, so shipping would not be necessary. If you're interested, let's talk.

Thanks for looking!

George P.

[ehs004]

George ,
Does that machine have a governor or do you just rely on your own cranking speed to control it?
Eric

[phonogfp]

No governor - just the operator's own dexterity at work. As they say, "It's all in the wrist..."

George P.

[ehs004]

No governor - just the operator's own dexterity at work. As they say, "It's all in the wrist..."

George P.

Interesting!
Thanks

[phonogfp]

Berliner hand-driven Gramophones of the 1897-98 period weren't much better, and they cost $15.00 - - five times the price of the first version of the United States Talking Machine! What a deal.

Actually, I've always wondered why there aren't more of these USTMs around.

George P.