Grand Graphophones

[phonogfp]

I suspect that many of us have found ourselves forming "sub-collections" within our major interests.  Collecting records by certain artists is probably the most common manifestation ("Here's my Jolson collection, and over there is my Ada Jones collection...").  

 

Those who concentrate on machines sometimes do the same thing.  I know two major collectors who focused solely on cylinder talking machines.  One once told me, "I've never seen a good-looking disc machine!"  

 

My own focus has been almost exclusively on American talking machines, which I admit is a serious limitation.  European machines usually feature style and color not often encountered in their U.S. - manufactured brethren.  The exception to this rule (in my mind anyway) are the cylinder Graphophones marketed by the Columbia Phonograph Company.  Admittedly, the Eagle Graphophone had little "style" to recommend it (and who in their right mind would put together a sub-collection of Eagles?).  But what the Eagle and the Type Q lacked in visual panache was more than compensated in the various Graphophones that played five-inch cylinder records (known as "Grand" Graphophones).  I've owned a couple of Grand Graphophones for over 40 years, but recently I developed an itch for additional types.  Unlike Edison, which offered a single mechanism for its Concert Phonograph (in three different cabinets over the years plus a coin-op), Columbia eventually marketed a surprising EIGHT different Grands - not including repeating models and a coin-operated version! 

 

Here's my current sub-collection of Grand Graphophones:

 

 

I'm very pleased to announce a 2-part article in upcoming issues of the APS magazine which will cover the many variations of Columbia Grand Graphophones.  The first, in the September 2025 issue, will cover the original Graphophone Grand and both versions of the Home Grand.  I have co-authored these with Chuck Azzaline, who for many years has carefully kept data on surviving examples of Grand Graphophones.  Images of these machines, original advertisements, and the results of Chuck's research will be contained in these articles.  The machines will be described, including proper reproducers, serial blocks, and the number of known survivors of each type.

 

George P.

[phono-phan]

I look forward to seeing the articles!!!  Thanks for all you do.  

[Tinfoilphono]

I'm very much looking forward to these articles! 

It will be nice to see a spotlight on the two most obscure Grands -- AD and AF.

 

[phonogfp]

Thanks, fellows.  Here are some ads and catalogue illustrations that couldn't fit in the first article.

 

George P.

 

Here's a February 1899 ad for the Type GG.  Note that no price is mentioned.  By March the $300.00 price would be featured in advertisements.  By November 1899, the price would be half that.

 

Here's a June 1899 ad for the new Home Grand.  By this time Edison had countered with the Concert Phonograph at $125.00, but this ad noted that the Home Grand was "...a machine of the genuine 'Grand' type and not an imitation."

 

The November 1899 Columbia catalog showed both the GG and HG.  Even at $150.00, sales of the GG must have been slow, and no wonder, when the company was claiming the volume and perfection of reproduction of the $100.00 HG to be, "...precisely the same as the higher priced machine."

 

By the time Columbia's late 1904 catalog appeared, the 2nd style HG was the only remaining Grand machine .  Although made obsolescent by high-speed moulded cylinder records, the Home Grand maintained its lofty price tag and the claim of being the finest cylinder talking machine available.

[BenL]

Thank you for sharing these period advertisements! 

[Valecnik]

I'm definitely looking forward to the September issue! 

 

[AmberolaAndy]

Would love to have one or a Edison concert! That would be nice if they stop being $1000+ when they show up for sale...