Featured Phonograph: 1901 Zonophone Concert Grand

[phonogfp]

An article on this machine appeared in the June 2021 issue of the APS magazine, but I'll include some images that didn't make the cut!

 

Make: Zonophone
Model: Concert Grand (1901 version)
Year(s) Made: summer 1901
Original Cost: $40.00
Case/Cabinet Size: 12" x 11" x 6"
Turntable/Mandrel: 9-inch diameter
Reproducer/Sound-Box: Zonophone V Concert
Motor: Single mainspring
Horn Dimensions: 30-inch length
Reproduction Parts: Circular foot at the base of vertical horn support
Current Value: ?
Interesting Facts: 

 

The Concert Grand was the top-of-the-line Zonophone during the years when Zonophones were briefly marketed by the National Gramophone Corporation (Frank Seaman's organization which formerly dealt with Berliner Gramophones).  The earliest Zonophone line was retailed through Columbia dealerships  from May 1900-September 1901. 

 

It is unknown exactly when the Zonophone Concert Grand was first made available to the public. It was not shown in the June 10, 1901 catalog, and by September 1901 the National Gramophone Corporation had ceased operations. This limited the machine’s availability from the National Gramophone Corporation to no more than 90 days during the slowest sales time of the year. It’s no wonder so few have been found (7-9 examples; several in various states of originality).  Universal would go on to manufacture other striking Zonophones with large horns (such as the later “Concert Grand” with a 24 inch horn, the “Grand Opera” with a 30 inch horn, and the “Flemish”), but no others with a vertical brace on the support arm, nor with 2 glass panels in its cabinet.

 

Until November 2020, this Zonophone Concert Grand was sitting high on a shelf in the home of the original owner’s great-granddaughter. It had passed from her great-grandfather to her grandfather, then to her father, and finally to her. As so often happens these days, no one in the family was interested in the machine so they decided to sell it. As part of the transaction, I asked for and received names, dates, locations, and even a late-1800s cabinet photo of the original owner. A friend researched the man on Ancestry.com and generously provided me with details that even the family didn’t know. None of it is very interesting from the standpoint of most collectors, but its pedigree will remain with this Zonophone for future owners.

 

George P.

 

Here's what it looked like when I brought it home:

 

After a sympathetic cleaning/polishing:

 

Other surviving vertical braces are plain rods, but this one has a candy-stripe design:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rather large size of the Concert Grand is obvious in comparison to the Type A and Type D displayed below it.

[Django]

Gorgeous machine.  I love those Zonophone castings.

[alang]

Another rare and stunningly beautiful machine in this new Featured Phonograph series. $40 in 1901 is about $1,400 in today's dollars, just based on inflation. That was the average monthly salary for a public school teacher. Definitely not a machine many people could afford. No wonder there aren't many around today. Thanks for sharing!

 

Andreas

[melvind]

One beautiful machine, George!

[phonogfp]

Thank you, gentlemen. 

 

Finding this Zonophone was a case of pure luck.  I never dreamed of ever owning one, but it simply fell into my lap.  I'm particularly pleased to have its provenance, even though it's not particularly interesting.  Still, this Zonophone remained in the family for 119 years, which in itself is remarkable.

 

George P.

[Valecnik]

What a beautiful machine George.  You got lucky indeed!  Thanks for sharing!

[phonogfp]

You're welcome, Bruce - it's my pleasure.  How about something from your outstanding collection?

 

George P.

[Valecnik]

15 hours ago, phonogfp said:

You're welcome, Bruce - it's my pleasure.  How about something from your outstanding collection?

 

George P.

I'll work on something George.  Hopefully this weekend I'll have a bit more time!

 

[phonogfp]

That would be great, Bruce!  Thanks!

 

George P.

[Lmkuhns]

That horn really polished up nicely. What a standout machine!

Larry

[phonogfp]

Thank you, Larry.  I have a few brass horns that I polish by hand, but I took this one to a professional instrument repairman.  It would have taken me days to remove all that tarnish - and the results would not have been as good.

 

George P.