New Phonograph in my collection

[USlakeside]

I just bought a new machine. This is a German coin-op Mammut Grammophon made in Germany (Leipzig?) Around 1906-15 (?). A fellow TMF collector, BrianU, was nice enough to drive this to NYC over the weekend. I thought Id share two images. The cool thing about the machine is its automatic stop and reset device that is quite elaborate. The sound is also very rich in deep as the reproducer is larger than an exhibition and the horn snakes and is therefore of greater length than most horn on disc machines.

Anyone who knows anything about the history of this machine, please share! Information is scarce.

[USlakeside]

For reference, the turntable is 10 inches. The horn is HUGE.

[antique1973]

For reference, the turntable is 10 inches. The horn is HUGE.

Thanks for sharing your newest edition! I love the giant horn, it must
get some pretty good volume I would imagine.

[OrthoSean]

That's a great machine! I got to see / hear it when I visited Brian a couple of years ago. Glad it has a good new home!

Congrats!
Sean

[MTPhono]

As a fellow fan of European machines and coin-ops, I find this a very appealing machine. There are so many aspects of this machine that are interesting. It looks like a keeper!

[Valecnik]

what a great, although a bit bizarre looking, machine. That must be a car full when you get it packed for moving. How does it sound? I'm guessing it could be quite loud with that horn configuration.

[USlakeside]

The machine has great sound, its loud, and the large reproducer help with bass. I have always been a fan of exotic machines. There are far to many Victors and Columbias to get me really excited. Machines I rarely see take me back to the early days of collecting when most machines seemed strange and unique.

[gramophone78]

Well,like the others and being a Paillard owner.I have to say it's a keeper for sure.I'm not sure why but, in the last year I have seen at least 10 of these hit the market.Most in complete woking order.Most were selling over seas.I was just surprized to see so many at once.Some were better than others.I remember having one that was missing the motor and coin mech.However,the all brass horn was soooo big.If I remeber correctly the bell was over 36" across!!!!!.It also had this "Lyre" or harp that supported the elbow to the bell.I just remember it was so darn big and then there was the machine!!!! .I found an old pic of the brass horn I had.Nice Lobster tail construction.

Mammut Horn.jpg (39.33 KiB) Viewed 1773 times

[Starkton]

Anyone who knows anything about the history of this machine, please share! Information is scarce.

In early 1898, Carl Below was employee at the Orpheus-Musikwerke in Leipzig where he first met Joseph Berliner who introduced the "Grammophon". One year later Below left Orpheus-Musikwerke taking with him a selling license. In fact he was principal customer for Orpheus' imported and manufactured "Grammophons".

In early 1902, Carl Below in Leipzig began to manufacture and market several models of his own brand "Mammut", trading with innkeepers solely. Before 1906, about three-quarters of talking machines and records were bought from innkeepers. Low retail prices were decisive. Nicely and well made, "Mammuts" were cheaper than "Grammophons" and better marketed. Hence, you find about 10 "Mammuts" for 1 coin-operated "Grammophon".

From 1905 Below also sold self-playing "Pianotist" pianos, becoming managing director of Pianotist Company G.m.bH. in Leipzig in 1906. Below staged a large "Mammut/Pianotist" freebie-concert in November 1906 before 1600 visitors and challenged the "Auxetophon" with his "Trombophon" and "Mammut-Aerophon" in 1907/08.

I am confident you will find your model in the 64-pages(!) "Mammut" pricelist of 1908. I think it was reprinted, but I don't have it at hand.