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What were some of the phonographs that the Doughboys brought into the trenches in WW1?edisonplayer

edisonplayer wrote: Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:20 am What were some of the phonographs that the Doughboys brought into the trenches in WW1?edisonplayer

Early Sonora and Decca portables with reflective horns are often called “Trench Phonographs”. I doubt that many were actually in the trenches. My Sonora has a calf skin covering and a wood horn.

I know the Edison Army/Navy was, obviously, and I suspect a number of tabletop machines were as well.

Victor advertisements in the war years showed Victrola tabletops such as the VV-IV, VV-VI, VV-VIII, and VV-IX in camps, hospitals, and other settings, but not necessarily in a frontline trench.

Arriving just in time for the start of WW1, the Decca soon became the market leader among British portables.
Their advertising extensively promoted their use by the Armed Forces, and the design was so successful that it continued well into the 1920's with very little modification. My example dates from 1923.

The British made "Celeste" is always said to be a genuine WW1 trench machine. Love it's elaborately cast turntable !!

For the record, I have seen a badly battered Edison Army & Navy Phonograph for sale on a classifieds site in Germany. If it hadn't been repainted in white, I probably would have nabbed it.

I thought this might be of interest.

Looks like a VV-VI made it to the war

VanEpsFan1914 wrote: Wed Jan 25, 2023 12:43 pm Victor advertisements in the war years showed Victrola tabletops such as the VV-IV, VV-VI, VV-VIII, and VV-IX in camps, hospitals, and other settings, but not necessarily in a frontline trench.

I've seen a surprising number of Victor tabletops here in France.