The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I wish I had taken my camera, I always swear I will and then forget it.. Yesterday at a mall I saw a rather low cabinet which looked like a record cabinet. When I opened it it had a tilt forward wooden divided record holder alright, not the usual slots. It had four major devisions. I don't recall seeing that as a lower form of record holder in an upright machine but its possible of course. What made me wonder the most was it had a molding that formed a slightly wider top than the cabinet and a different type of wood in the center, all of which showed wide screw heads. Not generally what I would think was an original cabinet. But I don't know if it rings any bells with anyone or not. I would guess it was about 28 inches high, which seemed low for a machine to set on.

On another trip I saw a cabinet lately that has a rather large sticker inside the door that said Talking Machine Company, if I recall the wording right. I think it had the needle holders on the door as well? Isn't Talking Machine a Victor patent or not? If so do you think they made it and had that large decal inside the door?

Larry

I can't comment on the first one, but I can on the second.

The Talking Machine Company was a Victor distributor in Chicago who marketed a line of cabinets called "The Cabinet that Matches." I have a catalogue reprint that shows matching cabinets for Victors I through VI.

I do not believe the term "talking machine" was copyrighted or trademarked.

The term "Talking Machine" was not copyrighted and was widely used the "Cheney Talking Machine Co." of Chicago being a good example. The terms Phonograph, Graphophone and Gramophone were copyright and another generic term didn't become popular until "Record Player" caught on.

Thanks for the comment, it would stand to reason that a distributor out of chicago would perhaps of sold to someone where it ended up downstate many years later. I should have realized that all those other companies used the Talking Machine wording in their titles! The first cabinet was for sure an old version which I am still suspicious was a cut down machine of some odd brand perhaps. Would be nice to also know which victor the second one went with as well. Maybe next time I am that way if its still there I can get a photo of it.

Anyone have a feeling for the reasonable selling value of those Talking machine cabinets? The one I saw may be a bargain depending, I am not a all informed on what these things actually sell for?