The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

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

December 18, 1889: Louis Glass and William Arnold filed for a U.S. patent for “Coin Actuated Attachment for Phonographs.” This would become the first coin-operated talking machine introduced to the public.

https://www.antiquephono.org/#/

A really interesting mechanism. It appears that each of the 3 listening tubes has its own coin slot. If only 2 customers pay to listen, the third, (unpaid), listening tube would then be silenced by means of its tubing pinched shut.

You have correctly sussed out the mechanism, Jerry. Certainly an odd design, but it was the first. I don't believe any of these Glass/Arnold machines survive.

George P.

Dad loved nickelodeons as well as Edisons, so the first thing I thought of when I read the title was that this was a nickelodeon post. Put another nickel in, In the nickelodeon, All I want is Loving you and Music, music, music.