Bettini Pantograph: "On This Day in Phonographic History..."

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"On This Day in Phonographic History..."

 

March 14, 1892:  Gianni Bettini filed for a U.S. patent for a mechanical pantograph, which would allow for duplication of cylinder records.

 

December 20, 1892: Gianni Bettini was granted U.S. patent No.488,381.

 

The actual pantograph pictured below came from the American Graphophone archives, and is marked: "Exhibit No.31."  This device was likely exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1900 and/or at Buffalo in 1901.  The decorative base suggests even later exhibits such as St. Louis in 1904 and/or Milan in 1906.

 

Once Bettini's patent application was granted (No.488381, December 20, 1892), the Columbia Phonograph Company became a part owner.  This surviving exhibit may depict Bettini's original design, or it may incorporate improvements inherent in Macdonald's design of 1895 or Bettini's improvements of July 1897.  In any event, this device would have been mounted to a bench in actual use. 

 

#antiquephonographsociety #phonograph #gramophone #antique

 

 

From The Talking Machine Compendium, by Fabrizio & Paul.  All Rights Reserved.

 

From The Talking Machine Compendium, by Fabrizio & Paul.  All Rights Reserved.