Mechanical Music Digest 
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Pictures > edisonMB

Edison Musical Box
Edison Phonograph Musical Box
by Tim Morsher (021208 MMDigest)

edisonMB.jpg (54 kb)I must admit I was a bit amused when I read the inquiry about a music box made by Thomas Edison, until I stumbled upon a 1993 issue of the "Antique Phonograph Monthly", Vol. XI, No. 1, issue #89, page 15, which reproduces an ad for "The Edison Phonograph Musical Box".

The early history of the phonograph is very intriguing, and well worth studying.  In a nutshell, early Edison phonographs (circa 1890) were not sold but were leased.  When this didn't quite work out, the machines were encased in all kinds of cabinet work -- too many to explain or describe here.

What this 1894 advert shows is an Edison class "M" type machine, in a beautiful cabinet, probably by this time selling for $250-300 dollars.  This was 1894, so they were not real successful at getting rid of them this way, either.

As of 1993 (the issue containing this reproduced ad), this combination of machine and cabinet has not been found.  It would be an incredible treasure if it were.

Best,
Tim Morsher - Milan, Ohio (a.k.a. Thomas Edison's birthplace)
8 Dec 2002 19:18:08 -0500


Read the previous MMD articles about the "Edison Music Box", indexed at http://www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/E/edison.html

The Antique Phonograph Monthly, published from 1973 to 1993 by historian Allen Koenigsberg, was an informative guide to the first 50 years of recorded music.  More history about antique phonographs is at Prof. Koenigsberg's web site at http://members.aol.com/allenamet/PhonoBooks.html


08 December 2002

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page