1904 Triplephone made by the Gramophone Co.

[Valecnik]

While looking for a picture of the Gramophone Junior for Xprite, I came across this in a repro of a 1904 French catalogue. Has anyone ever seen one? I doubt they were big sellers. According to the text the three platters were syncronized somehow to turn at exactly the same speed. Not surprisingly it was recommended for use in concert halls etc. In addition to the exorbitant price, you need to buy three copies of each disc you want to play!

[estott]

I believe this was a stunt piece that the Gramophone Co. (or Victor) put together to draw attention at exhibitions. Columbia went them one better with the Quadraplex Disc Graphophone with four turntables stacked vertically on a single shaft. There's an illustration in the book "Talking Machines" by V K Chew (Science Museum (London).

[Starkton]

The "Triplophon", a true collector's dream, was introduced at the Leipzig spring fair of 1904. One year later Deutsche Grammophon exhibited an improved model. Priced at 450 Mark (a Melba gramophone was "only" 300 Mark) sales figures must be very low. I took the following picture from my August 1905 Deutsche Grammophon catalogue:

[Steve]

Is this not a slightly 'Ludicrous-O-Phone' ?

Surely the (only) purpose was to increase volume, in which case, a much much larger single horn would have done the job far better? Not to mention how difficult it would be to setup and operate correctly. Or am I simply missing the fun of it?

[estott]

From what I've read the companies had all sorts of (theoretical) plans for these multi-disc machines involving special records. You could Have a tenor accompanied by an orchestra, change a disc and it's a soprano, add a disc and it's a soprano-tenor duet, change a disc and it's a soprano with a violin. It wasn't a completely new idea- the Symphonion "Eroica" music box featured three discs which could use complimentary arrangements.

[Lenoirstreetguy]

Fascinating! The Gramophone version is a new one on me although the Berliner company experimented with multiple turntables but never offered it for sale. What's interesting in the blurb is the part where they say that you put the reproducer in the spot indicated on each disc and then it is ready for the start, which begs the question as to whether they issued special discs for the use on this monster with a dot or something to indicate the same point on the each record.

Jim

[Brad]

I believe I read somewhere that the Deutsche Grammophon company went on to become the Wave Radio Division of the Bose Company.

[brianu]

such designs have intrigued me. Pathé made a similar machine, one turntable but two reproducers and horns...

[Steve]

I seem to recall that Pathé machine made 1000 Euros on Ebay a few years ago. I also like them although the merit of the design is apparently questionable. I am not lucky enough to have heard one but I know people who have who weren't overly impressed.

[gramophone78]

I think a collector I know has the three horn DGC machine.I will ask him if he would send me a pic of it that I can post.