570378 Triton Motor

[JohnM]

Triton motor.

[AllenKoe]

What is interesting about the very first "Spring-Motor" Phonographs (early 1896) is that the handles (cranks) have a riveted ID plate (nickeled) stating "U.S. Phonograph Co." on the haft. The patent of course was granted to Frank Capps (for the Triton-Motor), Within a year, the cranks were updated to the "National Phonograph Co." and then went 'nameless.' Edison was still emerging from the chaotic period of the North American Bankruptcy (1894-1896), and there seems to have been some temporary restriction on TAE's commercial activities. But by 1897, he was back in full swing. By 1909, he had to finally settle his financial obligations (court-ordered) with James Andem from the N.A. territorial fiasco (over $400,000). For some strange reason, Allan Sutton's (otherwise fine) book on Manufacturers & Producers completely misconstrues this drawn-out episode and calls it "fruitless." Edison's advisers had been telling him to settle for years but he stubbornly resisted until it was too late (and he then lost bigtime).

I believe the same series of events (info on/off the cranks) occurred for the introduction of the first Edison 'Suitcase' Home Phonograph (drawer-style) in 1896. These initial primeval models used a small 2-spring motor developed by the Seth Thomas Clock Co. (orig '8-day' style) and was quite under-powered for a phonograph. Their cranks would (also) become unidentified by 1897.

Allen