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The largest original cylinder phonograph horns
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 7:26 am
by kirtley2012
I've seen some approaching 55", but (excluding edisons 128 foot recording horn) what was the largest horn produced for playback purposes?
I have a project planned producing fiberglass horns, but I also have plans to produce a couple stupidly large ones, to see if I can
Re: The largest original cylinder phonograph horns
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:56 am
by edisonclassm
72" is the largest I have come across. Years ago I had a 72" Standard Amplifying Horn from Newark, NJ That I coupled with a Columbia GG on a base cabinet. Mike Devecka should have a picture of this kicking around somewhere in his archives.
Re: The largest original cylinder phonograph horns
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:50 am
by phonogfp
In 1900-1901, Hawthorne & Sheble manufactured and offered a nine-foot long horn - - apparently to the specifications of an exhibitor named A.W. Luce. An original letter survives in which this horn was discussed (click twice on the image to enlarge):
Hawthorne & Sheble's 1901 catalog illustrated and described this horn as its "20th Century Horn."

- Luce002.jpg (73.89 KiB) Viewed 1890 times
That the company was proud of this horn is proven by the rear cover of the 1901 catalog:

- Luce003.jpg (79.68 KiB) Viewed 1890 times
A.W. Luce took possession of his 20th Century Horn and used it with a Graphophone Grand. This 16" x 22" canvas-backed poster shows three views of the machine and horn, with Luce, an assistant, and a small boy for scale (click twice on the image to enlarge):
As far as I know, no "20th Century Horn" is known to exist (at a whopping $150, not many could have been sold!). However, Hawthorne & Sheble briefly (1900-early 1901) marketed an even more interesting horn that, until last year, was thought not to exist. The December issue of
The Antique Phonograph will feature an article on the only known surviving example of Hawthorne & Sheble's "Clover Leaf Horn." If you're not already a member of the APS, it's not too late to join for 2018 and receive all four issues of this year's journal.
George P.
Re: The largest original cylinder phonograph horns
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 11:37 am
by kirtley2012
Cheers George, that's very cool, don't think I'd seen that one before, though I'm not intending on going quite that large, I'm thinking 80-90", it would be very cool if one of those horns were still in existence
Re: The largest original cylinder phonograph horns
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 2:53 pm
by soundgen
kirtley2012 wrote:I've seen some approaching 55", but (excluding edisons 128 foot recording horn) what was the largest horn produced for playback purposes?
I have a project planned producing fiberglass horns, but I also have plans to produce a couple stupidly large ones, to see if I can
contact Graham he has probably already made them !
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/member ... ile&u=2461
Re: The largest original cylinder phonograph horns
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:00 pm
by kirtley2012
soundgen wrote:kirtley2012 wrote:I've seen some approaching 55", but (excluding edisons 128 foot recording horn) what was the largest horn produced for playback purposes?
I have a project planned producing fiberglass horns, but I also have plans to produce a couple stupidly large ones, to see if I can
contact Graham he has probably already made them !
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/member ... ile&u=2461
He has gramophone horns, but as far to my knowledge Graham has not delved into cylinder horns, though I would love to use his EMG oversize mould to make a straight phonograph horn!