The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

“On This Day in the History of Recorded Sound…”

June 25, 1900: Columbia won a Permanent Injunction that prohibited Emile Berliner from selling Gramophones or records to anyone other than Frank Seaman (who had already adopted the superior Zonophone). This ended Berliner’s business in the U.S. and forced Eldridge Johnson to continue on his own, eventually forming the Victor Talking Machine Company.

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Emile Berliner did not always treat his business partners fairly and caused them some trouble. During my research, I found this out time and time again. But sooner or later someone like Frank Seaman was bound to turn up who was his equal.

The common characterization of Frank Seaman being a villain and somehow "betraying" Berliner has its roots in biased writings from the 1950s and 60s. Anyone who examines Seaman's contract with Berliner and studies how Seaman was treated by the Gramophone interests will come to realize that Seaman was remarkably patient. Eventually he did what any successful businessman would have done. In the process, he gave us the Zonophone: a machine far superior to the Gramophone, and a delight to modern collectors.

George P.

I don't want to be misunderstood, George. Seaman's actions were appropriate and in accordance with his contract, but he didn't let Berliner's business behavior bring him down and he didn't let him get away with it. That's what I meant when I wrote Seaman was Berliner's equal.

I understood you perfectly, and I'm in full agreement.

George P.

Out with Berliner in with that awkward period known as "Consolidated Talking Machine" (I'm actually curious about this few odd period of months where the "Improved Gram-O-Phone" and "Improved Record" was on the market.)