Books on Antique Phonographs, Gramophones, Graphophones, Etc...

[phonogfp]

This list was begun by Jerry Blais back in 2015 on the Talking Machine Forum.  It can still be found there in the "Links" section.  The list received contributions from a number of other collectors, nearly all of which are included here.  

 

Books Specific to a Manufacture or Type:
The Edison Cylinder Phonographs by George Frow (out of print but available but available as an e-book).
Edison Cylinder Phonograph Companion by George Frow.
The Edison Disc Phonograph and the Diamond Discs by George Frow.
Columbia Phonograph Companion - Volume I  by Howard Hazelcorn (cylinder Graphophones)
Columbia Phonograph Companion Volume II  by Robert W. Baumbach & Mac Lackey (Disc Graphophones and Grafonolas).
Look For The Dog - An Illustrated Guide to Victor Talking Machines by Robert W. Baumbach.
Victor Data Book by Robert W. Baumbach.
Tinfoil Phonographs by Rene Rondeau.
The Berliner Gramophone an Illustrated History by Mark Caruana-Dingli.

The Incomparable Capehart by Robert W. Baumbach.

The Following Books were Authored by Tim Fabrizio and George Paul (for information on these books, see my additional post below):
Phonographs With Flair: A Century Of Style In Sound Reproduction, 1877-1929
The Talking Machine - An Illustrated Compendium, 1877-1929
Antique Phonograph Accessories & Contraptions
Phonographica - The Early History Of Recorded Sound Observed
Antique Phonograph Advertising - An Illustrated History
Discovering Antique Phonographs, 1877- 1929
Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, & Gimmicks
A World Of Antique Phonographs

Great books by Joan & Robin Rolfs:
Nipper Collectibles
Nipper Collectibles Volume II

Nipper Collectibles Volume III
Phonograph Dolls and Toys

 

Recommended For the Newcomer (and the Experienced as well):
Possibly the most valuable book for the new collector is The Compleat Talking Machine by Eric L. Reiss. There is a wealth of information about basic repairs as well as some phonograph history and many photos.

Early Books Related to our Hobby:
The Fabulous Phonograph by Roland Gelatt - 1955.  A highly readable and largely accurate resource.
From Tinfoil To Stereo by Oliver Read & Walter Welch - 1959.  If you've ever wondered where the anti-Columbia Graphophone or Zonophone bias came from, read From Tinfoil to Stereo. It is full of bias and many errors but was for many years considered a collectors bible.  (It is available in three editions (1959, 1976, 1994). The 1994 3rd edition is best avoided. It was a condensed version which somehow retained all the errors of the earlier editions.)

 

Disc Records:
Collector's Guide to Victor Records by Michael Sherman.
Collector's Guide to Edison Disc Records by George Copeland and Michael Sherman.
Edison Disc Recordings by Raymond Wile.

Physical Characteristics and Label Iconography of the 7-Inch American Berliner Record, 1892-1900 by Michael Sherman and David Giovannoni

American Record Company/Hawthorne & Sheble/International Record Company Hostories and Discographies, 1904-1909 by William Bryant; Edited and annotated by Allan Sutton

Leeds & Catlin Records, A History and Discography by William Bryant; Edited and annotated by Allan Sutton

The American Zonophone Discography - Volume 1, Ten- and Twelve-Inch Popular Series (1904-1912) by William Bryant

 

Refinishing/Repair
The Furniture Doctor by George Grotz - quick solutions to almost any type of woodworking problem you might ever have.

 

European Focus:

Edison Phonograph : The British Connection (Frank Andrews).
Collecting Phonographs and Gramophones (Christopher Proudfoot).
The EMG Story (Frank James).
His Master's Gramophone (Brian Oakley & Christopher Proudfoot).
The Illustrated History of Phonographs (Daniel Marty).

 

 

Recording Artists and Gaisberg Auto/Biography:

The Music Goes Round by Fred Gaisberg, published in 1942, is an autobiography of his work as a pioneer recording engineer and talent spotter for The Gramophone Company (later ‘His Master’s Voice’). His book covers the early history of the Columbia, Berliner and the Gramophone companies, the technicalities of early recording and the humorous and emotional demands of dealing with divas. He traveled extensively and he wrote of the recording sessions in Europe and throughout Asia, and of his reactions to foreign music and culture.  Some of Gaisberg's recollections have been debunked, but it's a good read nevertheless.

A Matter of Records, by Jerrold Northrup Moore (1977) covers much the same ground as Gaisberg's book, but with a biographer's lens into more personal aspects of Gaisberg's life.  A broader and more accurate view Gaisberg's impact on the early industry.  Personally, I prefer this to Gaisberg's own book.

 

Cylinder Records:

Edison Blue Amberol Recordings, 1912-1914 Vol. 1 by Ron Dethfelson
Edison Blue Amberol Recordings, 1915-1929,Vol. 2 by Ron Dethfelson
Indestructible and U-S Everlasting Cylinders: An Illustrated History and Cylinderography By Kurt Nauck & Allan

Sutton

Edison Two Minute and Concert Cylinders by Allan Sutton
Edison Amberol Cylinders, US and Foreign Issues, 1908-1913 by Allan Sutton

Edison, Lambert Concert Records & Columbia Grand Records and Related Phonographs by George Copeland & Ron Dethlefson

Edison Cylinder Records 1889-1912 by Allan Koenigsberg.

 

[Valecnik]

What a nice summary, especially for new comers to the hobby.

 

I've been doing this phono thing for so long that I've got almost all of those books, multiple editions and for some multiple copies, all within an arms reach of my keyboard.   Really good, I would say necessary investments for a serious collector.

 

[Rick]

The earliest books on the phonograph were in the 1890's, and with one exception (Gillett), they all dealt with Edison's phonographs.  I wrote a small article on these in the Antique Phonograph News, Winter 2024, the journal of the Canadian Antique Phonograph Society.  In addition to these books, the earliest chapters on the phonograph  appeared in books devoted primarily to the telephone by George B. Prescott (1879) and Count Du Moncel (1879).

 

[L4tD]

Also available is a newly revised book on Capehart phonographs.  The complete title is "The Incomparable Capehart" by Robert W. Baumbach.

 

It is available in a digital version on the Apple Book Store, or available in versions for the Kindle, soft cover or hard cover print editions on Amazon.

[melvind]

The Rolfs also have a volume III of their Nipper Books.

[phonogfp]

Thanks for the additions!  I have added them, and have a few more to add as well.

 

As for the historical books dating from the early years of the invention, I have not included them since my list is focused on reference books published with an aim toward the hobbyist.  Otherwise, period instruction manuals, magazine articles, and even catalogs would be fair game.  Aside from their general inaccessibility (outside the members-only APS online Library, of course), such artifacts should not be physically handled as day-to-day reference material.

 

Thanks again, everyone!

 

George P.

[Valecnik]

2 hours ago, phonogfp said:

Thanks for the additions!  I have added them, and have a few more to add as well.

 

As for the historical books dating from the early years of the invention, I have not included them since my list is focused on reference books published with an aim toward the hobbyist.  Otherwise, period instruction manuals, magazine articles, and even catalogs would be fair game.  Aside from their general inaccessibility (outside the members-only APS online Library, of course), such artifacts should not be physically handled as day-to-day reference material.

 

Thanks again, everyone!

 

George P.

To me some of the later reference books have become collectible in their own right.  I've got all the editions of the Frow books, bought as they came out.  I've also got almost two complete sets of the Fabrizio and Paul books, one set purchased as they came out and others picked up later so I have them available on both sides of the big pond.

[phonogfp]

48 minutes ago, Valecnik said:

To me some of the later reference books have become collectible in their own right.  I've got all the editions of the Frow books, bought as they came out. 

 

Yes, the Frow book on Edison cylinder Phonographs in hard cover is pricey these days.  Others, such as the Bryant and/or Sutton books on small disc record manufacturers (in my list above) were in production for a very short time.

 

52 minutes ago, Valecnik said:

  I've also got almost two complete sets of the Fabrizio and Paul books, one set purchased as they came out and others picked up later so I have them available on both sides of the big pond.

 

Now THAT'S a very wise investment! 😄

[phonogfp]

Details of the Fabrizio-Paul Book Series on Antique Phonographs, Accessories, Advertising, etc...

 

I haven't posted this information for nearly 11 years, so here it is for a new generation:

 

The Fabrizio/Paul books on the early history of sound reproduction might appear to be mere coffee table eye-candy. Until you read them. Hundreds of pages of text, plus thousands of detailed captions – all indexed for research – make these books the definitive source for information on the first 50 years of the Talking Machine. Then, there are the beautiful full-color photos: over 3,750 in the entire set. Phonographs, horns, record cabinets, advertising, accessories, period images, and much more from over 100 collections and museums around the world. You can have it all at your fingertips (for less than each author paid for a single airfare! ). Every book is an 8 ½” x 11” quality hardcover, and contains a glossary, bibliography, value guide, and index to text and illustrations. There is no duplication of images between volumes - - each book contains its own unique artifacts and images.

This series of books consumed a decade of travel, research, thousands of dollars worth of professional slide film, and two Nikon 35mm cameras. If you don’t have these books, deny yourself no longer.   They are available (new and used) from many online retailers, particularly on eBay.  If you'd like a copy autographed for yourself or for a friend, let me know via private message or email (address is at the bottom of this post).

The Talking Machine Compendium, 1877-1929 (Revised, Expanded Second Edition)
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
This book has been described by many as “the bible of antique phonograph collecting.” With nearly 600 full-color photographs, there’s not enough space to name everything pictured, but the illustrations, captions, and approximately 70 pages of text trace in detail the development of the talking machine industry through 1929. Included are a wide variety of tinfoil phonographs; Edison Class M Phonographs; Bell-Tainter treadle models,; early Graphophone Bell-Tainter derivative models; virtually every significant early spring-driven cylinder talking machine model known such as the Greenhill, Amet, Peerless, Macdonald, Capps, Edison, Echophone, Lioret, Graphophone, Chicago aluminum, Columbia, Pathé, smaller European brands, etc. Early disc talking machine development is covered from Kammer & Reinhardt, all known U.S. Berliner models, Montross, Wonder, Vitaphone, Victor, Columbia, Zonophone, Chicago brands, Keen-O-Phone, Edison Diamond Disc, Sonora, Brunswick, a variety of off-brands from the teens and twenties, Orthophonic, Viva-Tonal, and others. Talking dolls, a wide variety of coin-operated machines, special finishes and attachments/accessories round out the contents. If you were limited to only one book on the early days of the talking machine, this would be it. It’s the perfect “first book” for the beginning collector. Quality 8 ½” x 11” hardcover includes glossary, value guide, bibliography, and Master Index to all Fabrizio/Paul books except World of Antique Phonographs. Also includes an audio CD of 17 rare, unusual, entertaining, and interesting recordings (and liner notes). $69.95 + shipping.

Antique Phonograph Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
This beautiful 8 ½” x 11” hardcover illustrates and describes almost 700 items! As always, none of these artifacts appear in our other books. Chapters on horns, disc talking machine gadgets, cylinder talking machine gadgets, record storage cabinets, advertising, and contemporary images show an amazing array of talking machine-related objects. Over 500 full-color photographs illustrate horns of every size, shape, and color imaginable; automatic stops and repeaters; record brushes; “tone regulators”; a wide variety of record storage cabinets and boxes; needle boxes & tins; needle sharpeners; special sound boxes and reproducers; dancing toys, advertising, and much more. The 224 pages include authoritative text, full-color photographs with descriptive captions and values, a glossary, index to text and illustrations, and bibliography. Exhaustive research and stunning visuals make this book a “must have” for any phonograph collector or aficionado. None of the pictured items appear in our other books. $49.95 + shipping.

Discovering Antique Phonographs
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
This 244-page 8 ½” x 11” hardcover contains an astounding variety of antique talking machines, none of which appear in our other books. A perfect companion to The Talking Machine Compendium, this book features authoritative text, brilliant full-color photography, detailed captions, index to text and illustrations, value guide, glossary, and bibliography. Included in this book are outstanding machines from private collections, as well as truly historic machines and artifacts from the vaults of the Edison National Historic Park in West Orange, N.J. Over 400 color photographs and detailed captions describe machines such as the very first Phonograph; over a dozen tinfoil phonographs including spring-driven and weight-driven models; Edison “New,” “Improved,” and “Perfected” Phonographs; Edison’s personal nickel-plated Class M; the 1889 ½-size Edison “Military” Phonograph; Edison Treadle and Water-Motor Phonographs; a Type R Graphophone; an Edison Phono-Kinetoscope; a variety of coin-operated machines including an 1893 World’s Fair machine, Manhattan single and double models, a Multiphone, a Gabel’s Automatic Entertainer, unusual Hexaphones, and even a coin-operated Puck! See an electric Berliner; the earliest-known unmodified clockwork Edison Home; a U.S. coin-operated Berliner; the Columbia Toy disc Graphophone; a gold-plated Berliner Improved Gramophone; Bettini phonographs; a number of European machines; a Duplex Phonograph; several Canadian Berliner models; Reginaphones; rare Victrolas; a Circassian Walnut Edison Amberola I; talking clocks; an Edison Idelia with spruce Music Master Cygnet horn; Vitaphones; Keen-O-Phones; the Edison Kinetophone; Autophones; a Grafonola piano phonograph; European and American Pathés; a variety of off-brands from the teens and twenties; a Circassian Walnut Victrola XVIII; a Vernis-Martin Victrola XVII; an Edison Army & Navy Phonograph; disc and cylinder Psychophones; Edison’s personal Diamond Disc Phonograph; and Edison C-2 Radio-Phonograph; a Brunswick Panatrope; an Edison Amberola 80; and much new information. $49.95 + shipping.

Phonographs with Flair: A Century of Style in Sound Reproduction
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
Unlike our other books, this volume focuses on visually striking phonographs from 1877 through 1977. From the very beginning, manufacturers and customers were interested not only in how a talking machine sounded, but how it looked. In this celebration of visual style, you’ll find a decorated tinfoil phonograph; a specially decorated Edison Class M; a nickel-plated Edison Home in a Douglas “Marquetrie” cabinet; a Vernis-Martin Douglas cabinet with a Victor VI mechanism; a Gramophone & Typewriter “Melba” with stand; a Symphony Grand Grafonola; a VTLA in Circassian Walnut; an early decorated Keen-O-Phone; a U.S. Phonograph Company “Peerless”; a Vernis-Martin Victrola XVI; a Grand Grafonola with matching record storage bench; Edison Diamond Discs A/B-450 and A-425; a specially decorated Victrola IX; an Edison Amberola IV; a Victrola XVIII w/factory Japanese decoration; the Grafonola Regent and Baby Regent; a William & Mary Period Victrola; an Edison Diamond Disc W-250 in Chinoiserie cabinet; a Sonora Supreme w/matching record cabinet; a Premier; a Phonolamp Model C; oriental decorations on various phonographs; the Bell Phonograph; a Fern-O-Grand; the Orsenigo; a Grafonola “Small Gothic” (P-26); a Lampograph a Capitol Phono-Lamp, and the Fairy; a Modernola; a Davis triangular phonograph; a Piramida; a Nirona with Egyptian-style motif; a Pathé Actuelle “Classique”; an HMV Model 460 Lumiere; an Edison C-1; “hatbox” phonographs; a prototype Edison Art Deco phonograph; a 1930 Philco Concert Grand; a Montgomery-Ward “treasure chest” phonograph; a Mikiphone with carrying case; a Capehart Amperian Model 100; an RCA Rae-84; a 1935 RCA D-22; a 1935 E.H. Scott Philharmonic and 1936 Waverly Grand; 1938 RCA V-109; a pair of RCS Victor “Special” phonographs by John Vassos; the 1939-1942 Philco “Mystery Control”; a 1942 Philco 42-1008; a 1946 Philco 1201; a 1947 Farnsworth “Chairside”; a Zenith 12HO90; a Bing Crosby Junior Juke; an RCA 63E; a 1948 77U; a Philco Model 1401; a 1948 Columbia Model M-101; a 1949 Zenith “Twin Seven”; an RCA 45-EY-4; a Ristaucrat “Dial-O-Matic” Model 2020; an RCA “Alice in Wonderland” Model 45-EY-26; a 1955 RCA 6-JM-1; a Voice of Music Model 560-A; a Guild Grafonola; a 1957 Decca DP910; a 1958 Voice of Music Model 557; a 1957-59 Voice of Music Model 1000; a Braun PKG-5-8; a Blaupunkt “New Yorker”; a Koronette Model VESUV R10; A Columbia Stereo Model 360; a Voice of Music “Plush Pink”; a Clairtone Project G Model 2000; a 1970s Brother Primus II; a 1977 Zenith HR596 Allegro, and many other machines, advertising, period decorative accessories and catalog illustrations. A bibliography, glossary, value guide, and index round out this quality 8 ½” x 11” hardcover. $49.95 + shipping.

Antique Phonograph Advertising: An Illustrated History
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
This stunning 240 page hardcover (8 ½” x 11”) presents an unprecedented study of the history of phonograph and record advertising from 1878 through the 1920s. Not merely a collection of magazine advertisements, this book showcases rare and beautiful dealer advertising items, company promotional materials, and even one-of-a-kind exhibitor artifacts. Looking through the 450 color photographs, you will discover broadsides for tinfoil phonograph exhibitions; souvenir plates; North American Phonograph Company catalogs and illustrated booklets; an extensive variety of trade cards including articulated types; posters and handbills promoting Phonograph, Graphophone, and Gramophone exhibitions; photos of recording artists; rare and unusual record catalogs and flyers; unique political items; company letterheads and envelopes; dealer advertising applied to talking machines, horns, cylinder record boxes, disc records and sleeves; a large number of rare and significant Bettini promotional items; books and tracts promoting talking machines; store placards; electrotypes; metal and enameled dealer signs; period photographs of stores, interiors, displays, etc; outstanding Victor, Edison, and Columbia store posters and display items; glass theatre advertising slides; mirrors; lapel pins; trolley cards; promotional postcards; pennants; advertising records for Berliner, Edison, Columbia, Standard, Pathé, etc.; tip trays; advertising clocks; many unusual Nipper items; photogravures; Edison “Tone Test” promotional materials; beautiful counter displays; calendars; banners; advertising fans; rulers, pencils, matchbooks, and paperweights; record dusters; letter openers; ashtrays; a thermometer; banks; die cut figures for window displays; selected magazine advertisements; and much, much more. Of the nearly 600 items pictured in these general categories, here is a small sampling: the earliest known printed offering of tinfoil phonographs for sale; an 1889 souvenir plate showing Edison with a Class M Phonograph; a Columbia Toy Graphophone shipping box with colorful, paper label; a six-foot easel with painted sign promoting an early phonograph exhibition; a Bettini statuette; a Talkophone metal tip tray; an Eagle Talking Machine Company souvenir plate; a two-color Edison Kinetophone exhibition poster; a special brochure describing the Victrola XVIII; the only known example of the Edison “Amberola Store” cabinet; a plush Nipper from 1916; a Columbia counter display with its 12 original display panels for new records; a copy of “Let Us Not Forget” with original sleeve and autograph of Thomas A. Edison; a very interesting group of Paramount blues records display items; large stunningly colorful lithographed Victor, Edison, and Columbia dealer items, and much more. As always, none of these items is duplicated in our other titles. An insightful text, detailed captions, value guide, glossary, bibliography, and index make this volume a valuable and entertaining reference. $49.95 + shipping.

Antique Phonograph Accessories & Contraptions
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
Modeled on the earlier book, Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gimmicks, this volume contains 555 all new color photographs depicting rare, beautiful, odd, charming, and often amusing aftermarket items offered for talking machines throughout the acoustic and early electrical era. The chapter on Horns includes a brass Berliner model shaped like a cornet; a variety of glass horns; oriental-style horns; sections on “Mega” and “Searchlight” horns; a variety of collapsible horns; paper-mache and wood-grained metal horns; a Victor VI with original Victor wood-grained trumpet-style metal horn; a large variety of colorfully decorated flower horns; incredible Edison horn production variations; Bettini horns; the “Lily”; the “Tulip”; a variety of wooden horns; seldom-seen examples such as the Echo-Tone and Resonator; carrying cases; a variety of horn supports, and much more. The chapter on Cylinder Accessories features tinfoil and Edison Doll promotional material; gadgets for North American era Phonographs and Bell-Tainter Graphophones; Bettini equipment; a Dupliphone; various listening tubes; auto-stops; odd reproducers & recorders; speed indicators; interesting Edison modifications, and more. The chapter on Disc Accessories includes an HG Graphophone with disc record conversion; home recording devices; various types of needles, tins, sharpeners, and displays; a large variety of sound boxes/reproducers from the 1899 Toy Graphophone to electrical add-ons from the 1920s; a number of Victor experimental sound boxes; a Berliner stamper and other interesting Berliner records; children’s records; talking books and postcards; a Bettini disc records; many vertical/lateral attachments; accessory lamps; turntable toys; repeaters; mechanical feeds; circa 1910 sound-on-film artifacts; and much more. The chapter on Storage Cabinets features cylinder and disc carrying cases; glass-lid cabinets with Edison Spring Motor and Class M Phonographs; a variety of Hawthorne & Sheble stands and cabinets; record storage cabinets and boxes for dealers; several mahogany cabinets for Victor VI and BY Graphophone; an Allegrophone; Douglas cabinets; many cabinets from Salter, Rockford, Lyon & Healy, Long, Wood, Pooley, Columbia, Victor, Lundstrom, and more. None of these artifacts have appeared in our other books. Includes detailed captions, glossary, bibliography, index, and value guide. $49.95 + shipping.

Phonographica
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
This quality 8 ½” x 11” hardcover is modeled on Antique Phonograph Advertising, but as always none of the same items are repeated. An astounding 500 all new color photographs were amassed which depict the original graphic artistry associated with the first 50 years of talking machine and record history. Included are exhibition broadsides; North American Phonograph Company documents; rare early catalogs (including interior pages) such as 1894 Graphophone, 1896 Chicago Talking Machine Company, 1897 Edison, 1898 Sears, Roebuck, 1899 Hawthorne & Sheble, etc.; a spectacular selection of original signs from coin-operated phonographs; Eldridge Johnson’s 1900 logbook; trade cards; illustrated dealer circulars; political items; dealer display items; phonograph convention items; store banners; much material on interesting uprights from the teens and twenties; Little Wonder/Bubble Books; trolley cards; Orthophonics; and 123 superb real-life period images of people and their talking machines. Like all our books, this one includes detailed captions, glossary, bibliography, index, and value guide. $49.95 + shipping.

A World of Antique Phonographs
By Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul
This final book of the Fabrizio/Paul series builds upon The Talking Machine Compendium and Discovering Antique Phonographs without any duplication. Like all our books, it’s an 8 ½” x 11” quality hardcover, and includes detailed captions, glossary, bibliography, index, and value guide, plus insightful text covering much new information. Pictured and discussed in this volume are a Phonautograph by J. Lancelot; tinfoil phonographs; a unique Bell – Tainter Type C; a Graphophone pantograph; various Bacigalupi markings on machines; two Edison suitcase Homes in outrageous period custom cabinets; an Edison Concert under glass in a Hawthorne & Sheble cabinet; another Concert in earliest coin-slot form; a Concert with Polyphone Attachment and painted lid; a section on Sears exhibition equipment; Victor Monarch Deluxe; Bettini machines and equipment; Victor MS with 54” horn and stand; the Mertz prototype Victrola; a section on the Multiphone/Autophone Company featuring factory photographs; Edison A-300 in Circassian Walnut; Period Victrolas; Grand Grafonola in Circassian Walnut; Heywood-Wakefield; several interesting off-brands such as Crystola and Shell-O-Phone; Vernis-Martin Victrola XVII; Sonoras; Victrola 230 in Circassian Walnut; leather-paneled Credenza; interesting portables, and some other talking machines that defy description! In addition, the corporate, marketing, and personnel connections between talking machine firms around the world are here, including examples from Lioret, Pathé, Stollwerke, Multiplex, Puck, Klingsor, Lumiere, and many others. $49.95 + shipping.

For more information, feel free to send me a PM or email me at gpaul2000 (at) aol (dot) com.

[Valecnik]

Here's the set plus some of the others mentioned in the Thread.  🙂

Edited December 14 by Valecnik