Daniel Higham and the BC Graphophone: "On This Day in Phonographic History..."

[phonogfp]

April 25, 1901: Daniel Higham filed for a U.S. patent for a “Phonic Apparatus.”  This mechanical amplifier would eventually be manufactured as the reproducers for the “BC” and “BM” Graphophones; the loudest cylinder talking machines of their day.

 

July 16, 1901: Daniel Higham was granted a U.S. patent (No.678,566) for a “Phonic Apparatus.”

 

#antiquephonographsociety #phonograph #gramophone #antique

 

 

 

 

Video of a Type BC in Operation:

[melvind]

Terrific video! ?

[phonogfp]

Thank you, Dan - - you're kind to a fault.  The video is pretty rough, but I'm hoping to improve with experience.  I also could use some good video editing software!  Hopefully the operation of the Higham reproducer and some idea of the volume came through, despite the amateurish production.

[Tinfoilphono]

It's an excellent demonstration of the volume and clarity of the BC. Very impressive indeed.

[phonogfp]

Well, thank you Rene. 

 

BCs are wonderful machines.  I really like the look of them.  When I brought this one home in 2002, it wasn't as pretty as it is now, but all I could see was its potential.  I deposited it on a footstool in our living room, exclaiming to Barbie, "Isn't it beautiful?"  The poor woman - perhaps fearing that I wanted to install it somewhere in that room - replied, "It's horrible!"