The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Who knew there was a Canadian-made phonograph that preceded Berliner’s gramophones first produced in Montreal in 1899? Apparently, no-one, until Bill Pratt discovered one made earlier in Ontario. The full story can be found in the Fall issue of Antique Phonograph News published by CAPS at www.capsnews.org . Billl’s article, “Searching for the Earliest Talking Machine Made in Canada” tells the whole story. His painstaking research revealed that The Canadian Talking Machine Company of London, Ontario began producing a simple hand-wind phonograph in December 1898. Appropriately enough, it was called “The Canadian Talking Machine” and was advertised in local newspapers throughout south west Ontario. Wouldn’t it be great to find one of these. The ad below shows what it looked like, so spread the word, search high and low and let’s see if we can find an example of this very first Canadian phonograph.

download/file.php?mode=view&id=187998

Very cool, and somewhat reminiscent -- in its design and simplicity -- of the United States Talking Machine of 1897, which, like the Canadian Talking Machine of 1899, also used something that resembled a nail as a stylus.

-- Grant

The ad appears to be artistic license because the fixed position arm/horn connection doesn't look functional. A stick (or a tube) and a nail for a "tonearm" with a horn somehow connected to the end??? AND it can be heard up to 60 ft.?

Hope someone finds an example ...