The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

For a summer project I've been going through some of my machines in storage and have come across a few that have puzzled me ever since I found them. This one is a Berliner Gram-O-Phone; according to the tag, it's Canadian, and I believe it's a model E. (For scale, that's a 7" turntable.) Can anyone tell me when, approximately, this was made and sold? Was it sold in the U.S., too, or just Canada? Would that reproducer have been standard issue, or was it a later upgrade? Does the rest look original? Can anyone tell me anything else about it? Is there any information about Berliner's early Canadian machines online? I've never seen another in person.

Thanks!

The reproducer is correct for the Canadian model, although it's mounted on the wrong side of the traveling arm.

Yes, I did that! Wasn't paying attention...

So would this have been made after 1903 (the date on the reproducer)? Any idea how long after?

Yours is the earlier, 1st model of the E. Here’s the later 2nd model. 2 Pyramid models serial numbers I know of are in the 2500’s.

The reproducer on your machine is a factory offered upgrade from the time. Your machine would probably be 1903-ish. It has a record clamp so it’s definitely earlier than most. The earlier machines had the Berliner Automatic reproducer which was unique to itself. Kind of like a Victor Concert but made a little lighter, no knurl on the OD, and with factory information stamped into the side. Some of these reproducers have a partial domed shield over the mica. Hope this helps as I’m just going by memory.

Great info and pictures! Thank you very much.