phono graoh books

[s_nakamura]

what are good books

[phonogfp]

Here's a good list:

https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/20 ... hones-etc/

George P.

[drh]

Among brand-specific reference books worth knowing are these:

George L. Frow, The Edison Disc Phonographs
George L. Frow and Albert F. Sefl, The Edison Cylinder Phonographs 1877-1929
Robert W. Baumbach, Columbia Phonograph Companion (2 volumes, 1 cylinder and 1 disc; I have only the latter but assume the former is equivalent)
Robert W. Baumbach, Look for the Dog (Victor)
George A. Copeland and Ronald Dethlefson, Pathé Records and Phonographs in America, 1914-1922

If you're looking for general histories of the phonograph, I think the only options still are the two volumes that were long in the tooth even when I got involved in the hobby back in the 1970s:

Oliver Read and Walter Welch, From Tinfoil to Stereo (1959)
Roland Gelatt, The Fabulous Phonograph (1955)

Tinfoil to Stereo is the more "scholarly" tome, rather dry reading but detailed. Fabulous is a more "popular" volume, written by a magazine journalist. Both have biases, and both have mistakes, but as far as I know nobody has stepped forward to write a modern successor. Note that Tinfoil was issued in a second edition some years back; although I've not seen a copy, that version, as I understand things, simply lopped off a bunch of material that had been in the first.

[phonogfp]

If you're looking for general histories of the phonograph, I think the only options still are the two volumes that were long in the tooth even when I got involved in the hobby back in the 1970s:

Oliver Read and Walter Welch, From Tinfoil to Stereo (1959)
Roland Gelatt, The Fabulous Phonograph (1955)

Tinfoil to Stereo is the more "scholarly" tome, rather dry reading but detailed. Fabulous is a more "popular" volume, written by a magazine journalist. Both have biases, and both have mistakes, but as far as I know nobody has stepped forward to write a modern successor. Note that Tinfoil was issued in a second edition some years back; although I've not seen a copy, that version, as I understand things, simply lopped off a bunch of material that had been in the first.

Ouch!

Tim Fabrizio and I specifically wrote the first of our 8 titles (The Talking Machine Compendium) to supplant all the problems of Tinfoil to Stereo, and add nearly 600 color images to boot! When we wrote Discovering Antique Phonographs, we covered the early history of the industry again, but from slightly different perspectives. Our final book (A World of Antique Phonographs) continued in this vein, while connecting the dots of talking machine companies around the world.

There are 5 additional titles which examine a plethora of accessories, advertising, graphic design, original catalogs, and even some of the craziest and/or most beautiful talking machines from 1877 to 1977.

Please tell me you're at least heard of the Fabrizio/Paul books.

As for From Tinfoil to Stereo, I would never recommend it to anyone - especially a new collector. It took me years to unlearn some of the inaccuracies I absorbed there. Here's an article I contributed 15 years ago to back up my contention:

ftts.pdf

(287.62 KiB) Downloaded 35 times

Okay, now I need a cold shower...

George P.

[Andersun]

I have all of the Fab/Paul books. The Compendium is my favorite! Very nice books!

[Ripduf1]

Easy George!

There is an upside - apparently everyone doesn't already own all of them. Which I find hard to believe if your trying to learn about the hobby and the variations within each company. Fabrizio & Paul books are the best reference group out there IMO. Machines, Cabinets, Horns and ephemera.

Unless of course, you prefer dry text with black and white pictures, then they are not so good. I have them all. JD

[phonogfp]

Thanks Steve and John - I took a shower, had some crackers with hummus, and now I'm feeling fine again!

George P.

[drh]

Sorry that I seem to have put my foot in it. (Whether "it" is synonymous with "my mouth" or something more fragrant I'll leave for others to decide!)

[phonogfp]

Sorry that I seem to have put my foot in it. (Whether "it" is synonymous with "my mouth" or something more fragrant I'll leave for others to decide!)

That's okay...I needed that shower anyway...!

George P.

[Andersun]

Thanks Steve and John - I took a shower, had some crackers with hummus, and now I'm feeling fine again!

George P.

Don't worry George, we will defend you honor...... I'm mostly an Edison collector (98%) so "The Edison Cylinder Phonographs 1877-1929" by George Frow and Albert Sefl is my second favorite.