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Has anyone heard of the Cornish piano company phonograph? I was sent the motor but I can’t find any information on it and the customer just said it’s an upright.

Hi Brett,

Like you, I was unable to find any information directly related to a phonograph manufactured by the Cornish Piano Company; however, I suspect, like many other manufacturers of pianos, etc., (e.g., Starr), they entered the "off-brand" phonograph fray in the teens or 20s, when their business began to wane. Here is one link: http://www.hiddennj.com/2014/12/making- ... ngton.html

Another: https://antiquepianoshop.com/online-museum/cornish/

I understand they were strictly a catalog company and did not sell their instruments through retail outlets. A Bing AI search yielded the following, but I suspect it's just parroting what you've already found about the company:

"The Cornish Piano Company was a mail-order business that sold pianos and organs directly to customers from their factory in Washington, New Jersey. They
also produced phonographs, which were devices that could record and play sound from discs or cylinders12. The Cornish phonographs were usually very
elaborately carved and had a distinctive motor that required restoration1. The Cornish Piano Company operated from 1879 to 1922, when their factory burned
down and they never recovered."

I suspect you've already found the above links, but if not, perhaps they will help.

Good luck,
CharlieP

In addition, only this tantalising snippet: https://antiqueradios.com/forums//viewt ... 9&t=181942
Don't know if there was any connection with this company: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collecti ... AHTL_11765

Hello,
I have 4 Cornish organs. The company was a direct from the factory to you, with a very nice catalog showing the pianos and organs. If you bought a Cornish organ, and within a year found one cheaper and better, you could send it back COD, and would receive full payment you made, plus I believe 6% interest on your money, with the stipulation you gave them the name of the organ company that was "better" than a Cornish, and less expensive! That's a guarantee!
I personally love playing my Cornish organs. My favorite is an 18 stop Cornish Corone. I have another 18 stop Majestic, and 2 more 16 and 18 stop Coronas!
I have seen a Cornish phonograph, and thought it might be fun to have one sometime.
Burdette E. Walters

We love to research the 'off-brands' and sometimes only find some skimpy information.
This is a little bit on the Cornish, mostly from the Music Trades publication:
The Cornish Co. of Washington, N. J. began making phonograph cabinets in February, 1916.
In July, 1918, they temporarily suspended the organ production, but kept the piano and phonograph departments going.
By February of 1920, they were increasing production and making high-grade phonographs for the Solotone Manufacturing Co.
December, 1921, the Cornish Co. was in receivership, still claiming to manufacture organs, pianos and talking machines.
The plant was sold in June, 1922. The new owner was hoping to continue manufacture on a small scale.
The final disposition was in 1925, when the property was sold to make way for apartments.
Very little as far as advertising as well, (from Library of Congress, Atlanta newspaper, 1916):

Bret,

I believe I have a Cornish machine catalog, if you possibly need to identify the particular model you're dealing with.

Bob Coon --- WI

The only information I have about this company is that I have a record by that label.

MisterOpera wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 6:27 pm Hello,
I have 4 Cornish organs. The company was a direct from the factory to you, with a very nice catalog showing the pianos and organs. If you bought a Cornish organ, and within a year found one cheaper and better, you could send it back COD, and would receive full payment you made, plus I believe 6% interest on your money, with the stipulation you gave them the name of the organ company that was "better" than a Cornish, and less expensive! That's a guarantee!
I personally love playing my Cornish organs. My favorite is an 18 stop Cornish Corone. I have another 18 stop Majestic, and 2 more 16 and 18 stop Coronas!
I have seen a Cornish phonograph, and thought it might be fun to have one sometime.
Burdette E. Walters

That's neat you have working reed organs! I have an 11 stop "Palace" by Loring and Blake which lacks a sub-bass stop but which plays well and is voiced nicely. There is also a folding melodeon and an early cottage organ which to be honest isn't too far removed from melodeon design practice. I don't use it much. The 11 stop is way easier on the ears and the fingers.

Reed organs are as much fun as phonographs I think. Didn't know Cornish made a phonograph but that's pretty cool!