BIAL & FREUND Phonograph Model IV (EWC)
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 3:57 pm
Hello!
This is my first post in this forum. Please excuse me if I make any mistakes during the following post.
Anyone who collects European phonographs comes across the "Bial & Freund" Phonographs sooner or later. Bial & Freund was a bookstore based in Breslau, with an external office in Vienna.
Around 1850 the company began selling also weapons, bicycles and musical instruments. As one of the first German mail-order houses, Bial & Freund also began selling imported phonographs very early.
Between 1898 and 1900, the company entered into an contract with the Excelsior-Werke (EWC) in Cologne. From this moment, Excelsior exclusively produced a series of phonographs in Bial & Freund's own design. I would now like to present one of the most expensive phonographs from Bial & Freund's own series. This machine cost RM ,- 117.50, and was sold as an "American-style phonograph". I think the company was oriented on the design of the Columbia phonographs....(?)
By chance, I bought this machine in this original condition from a heritage. It cost less than the original price! The phonograph was very dusty and dirty, but all parts were there, luckily also the original Horn. The drive belt (made of leather) is still original and still very flexible. Also the reproducer was complete, the sapphire is still very good. I suspect the reproducer was imported from the USA?
To illustrate the small size of the machine, I placed a normal 25cm/1o inch record next to it.
After a brief first cleaning and some oil the phonograph purred like a little kitten - he runs very evenly and sounds good.
I would be very happy about any information or any tips.
Thank you!
This is my first post in this forum. Please excuse me if I make any mistakes during the following post.
Anyone who collects European phonographs comes across the "Bial & Freund" Phonographs sooner or later. Bial & Freund was a bookstore based in Breslau, with an external office in Vienna.
Around 1850 the company began selling also weapons, bicycles and musical instruments. As one of the first German mail-order houses, Bial & Freund also began selling imported phonographs very early.
Between 1898 and 1900, the company entered into an contract with the Excelsior-Werke (EWC) in Cologne. From this moment, Excelsior exclusively produced a series of phonographs in Bial & Freund's own design. I would now like to present one of the most expensive phonographs from Bial & Freund's own series. This machine cost RM ,- 117.50, and was sold as an "American-style phonograph". I think the company was oriented on the design of the Columbia phonographs....(?)
By chance, I bought this machine in this original condition from a heritage. It cost less than the original price! The phonograph was very dusty and dirty, but all parts were there, luckily also the original Horn. The drive belt (made of leather) is still original and still very flexible. Also the reproducer was complete, the sapphire is still very good. I suspect the reproducer was imported from the USA?
To illustrate the small size of the machine, I placed a normal 25cm/1o inch record next to it.
After a brief first cleaning and some oil the phonograph purred like a little kitten - he runs very evenly and sounds good.
I would be very happy about any information or any tips.
Thank you!
