The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This is why I just love machines made in Germany, France, etc. A Duophone currently listed on EBay. (280724664368) One of these days I'll go antique hopping over in Europe with the wife. But the cost of shipping back to the USA? Hummmmm...... Brian Keith

Very nice! Is it an early attempt at stereo?

definitely a nice machine, but a ridiculous price.

I thought that dual head, by the way, was intended to produce greater volume - I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure this design was discussed somewhere on this site before.

The company claimed the short needle bar reproduced the high frequencies and the long bar the lower- impossible, and the weight must be hard on the record. The divided tone arms stop at the motor board where they both enter the same horn. It's all just smoke and mirrors, but it looks attractive and well made.

Absolutely excellent.

estott wrote:The company claimed the short needle bar reproduced the high frequencies and the long bar the lower- impossible, and the weight must be hard on the record. The divided tone arms stops at the motor board where both enter the same horn. It's all just smoke and mirrors, but it looks attractive and well made.

that makes sense. thanks for the clarification.

... still a ridiculous price, though.

Another novel feature seen on some Duophones, but not the example pictured above, was a control knob which stopped the turntable whilst simultaneously lifting the needle from the record. A neat party trick with which to impress your friends. With prices ranging from GBP24 to GBP42 in the early 1920's, Duophones were not cheap.

In late 1925 Duophone commenced record manufacture, but by 1929 the company was in financial trouble. Liquidation was only postponed by selling it's pressing plant and recording facilities to Decca, and the end came in March 1930.

Yes... nice machine; but $ 1876.... (+ S&H)

In the early 1920s a lot of experimenting was done to improve the rather tinny sound of the acoustic recording process. Duophone was one, Ultraphone was another company. The latter used two tonearms and two separate horns to create an echo effect. Both failed, but are very much sought after. The price is high but not unrealistic, given the condition. A good Ultraphon will cost around the same. These are very rare beasts and true collectors items.