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

January 23, 1894: Thomas A. Edison was granted a U.S. patent (No.513,095) for a water-powered phonograph motor. Although a failure in the marketplace, Edison chose them as presentation machines for Czar Alexander III and pianist Josef Hofmann. For more images: https://forum.antiquephono.org/topic/82 ... mment-3739

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

I have seen two of those machines. One used to be on display in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI, and the other is at the Edison Museum in Fort Myers, FL. The one in Dearborn disappeared from public view many years ago and, I believe, is in private hands.

The Ford's example is still in their collection, but is now in storage. It is somewhat problematic -- the topworks is from a much later Home. It was originally donated by Edison so it may have been assembled from parts in the 1920s for donation to Ford.

phonojim wrote: Fri Jan 23, 2026 8:05 pm The one in Dearborn disappeared from public view many years ago and, I believe, is in private hands.

How did you come to the conclusion that it is in private hands?

Garret

The Henry Ford (museum) has a web page on their Water Motor, with a downloadable photo. The web page link is below.

Jim Nichol

https://www.thehenryford.org/collection ... act/221258

Thank you JimN. It has not been on display for around 40 years now. I lived in the Detroit area for many years. We went often, and had memberships several years. The last time I saw it on display was In the 1970s. At one time, the story was that it had somehow gotten into private hands.

Here is a photo of the water motor Edison as it was displayed in 1974

I am kind of surprised that water powered phonographs and small machines were not more popular because they could be used where no electricity or the problem with batteries. It would have been easier to set up a water storage tank to be used. When it rains and the rain barrel is full there would be lots of music.

I'm guessing those who only had water as a power source couldn't afford a $150 phono in 1891.

Jim Nichol

Here's a Polaroid of the Water Motor at the Henry Ford Musuem from roughly 1980. My photo skills here look fairly low, and the light refections in the glass cage were a pain.

Jim Nichol