Featured Phonograph: Craftsman Tinfoil

[Tinfoilphono]

Okay, I'm happy to start what I hope will become a very active series of threads.

 

This is probably the rarest machine I have ever owned:

 

MODEL:  Tinfoil
SERIAL #:   None
YEARS MADE:   circa 1878
COST:   unknown
CASE/CABINET SIZE:  13" x 10"
TURNTABLE:   ---
REPRODUCER:   combination recorder/reproducer
MOTOR:   hand-powered
HORN DIMENSIONS:   none
REPRODUCTION PARTS:   none
CURRENT VALUE:   Anyone's guess
INTERESTING FACTS :  

 

This early tinfoil phonograph was first discovered by Oliver Read sometime in the 1930s in the northeastern United States. Read is best known as the co-author (with Walter Welch) of the seminal book "From Tinfoil to Stereo," first published in 1959. Unfortunately nothing is known about its maker. It was evidently made in the US, in violation of Edison's patents, as is evident from the non-metric hardware. The metal castings are very ornate and quite complicated, which would lead me to believe that more than one would have been produced in order to amortize the foundry costs, but no others are reported to survive. The machine is illustrated on page 21 of the early editions of "From Tinfoil to Stereo." Read's caption suggests it was made by "an independent maker in New Jersey" but he offers no evidence for the assertion.

 

Read kept the machine in his collection until the late 1970s or early 1980s, when he sold it (along with several other phonographs) to the late collector Allen Koenigsberg. I acquired it from Allen about 20 years ago.

 

In addition to highly ornate castings, the wooden base has elaborate carvings, some highlighted with gilt, and inlaid marquetry. There is a small hidden drawer in the back to hold spare stylii and other supplies. 

 

I first saw this machine on Christmas day, 1962, when my parents gave me a copy of FTTS. I was enchanted, but I could never have imagined that several decades later it would highlight my own collection.

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Tinfoilphono

[phonogfp]

What a wonderful example of an early Tinfoil Phonograph!  A great start to this category.

 

We included an image of this machine in our first book, The Talking Machine Compendium.  At the time, Allen told us that it might possibly be the work of Alex Pool, but again - no hard documentation.

 

George P.

 

[Tinfoilphono]

I can only guess that Allen came up with the Poole attribution because of Read's alleged New Jersey origin. (Poole was based in Newark.) Poole did make at least one sample machine for Edison but I've found no evidence that any were actually sold to the Edison Speaking Phonograph Company. There are some pictures of this machine (taken by Edison's nephew Charlie) but they show a heavy and industrial beast, not remotely like the delicate craftsman machine featured here.

 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by Tinfoilphono

[Jerry]

Wow! You've certainly started this off with a real jewel! Have you ever attempted to record & play back with it?

[Tinfoilphono]

No, I haven't. I've owned many tinfoil phonographs over the years, both originals and replicas, but this is one of only two that I decided were simply too delicate to take that risk. As beautiful as the lacey castings are, they are very fragile. (The other phonograph was a small machine by Vital, made of wood with a plaster of Paris mandrel. Less delicate than this one, but still ridiculously fragile.)