CHAPTER TWO of THE TALKING MACHINE, AN ILLUSTRATED
COMPENDIUM 1877-1929, covers the period 1894-1898. This was an important
time in the development of commercially-viable talking machines. The earlier
designs were abandoned or improved as the fledgling companies struggled to
establish themselves. Among others, the story of the Berliner Company is
told and illustrated in detail.
The "Echophone" was a clever talking machine developed by engineer and mechanic Edward Amet. The sound from the grooves of the cylinder record was transmitted down a hollow glass rod and into a small "resonating chamber", where it was released into the ear-tubes shown. In the mid-1890s, Amet made quite an impact with his talking machine inventions, but fell afoul of court battles which sapped his finances. Courtesy George F. Paul.
CHAPTER THREE of THE COMPENDIUM deals with the years
1899-1903. It was an era of furious patent battles Yet, it was when the talking
machine began to realize its economic potential, and some very interesting
machines were produced. Victor, Columbia, Zonophone, Edison - all are profusely
illustrated and descibed in Chapter Three.
The "Polyphone" attachment was one of the newest gimmicks in talking machines
as the 20th Century dawned. It could be adapted to either a Columbia Graphophone
(Type "AT" shown) or an Edison Phonograph. There were two reproducing heads
playing the same groove almost simultaneously - closely enough to be heard
together. With two reproducers and two horns, the sound was louder - but
the mechanics difficult to adjust. Courtesy George F. Paul.
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CHAPTER FOUR WITH MORE COLOR PHOTOS.
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