Mario's Phonograph and Gramophone Museum

CLASS M

(North American Phonograph Company/ Edison, 1893)

The Class M was the first of the wax cylinder phonographs manufactured by Edison. It was driven by a heavy cast iron motor the power for which was supplied by early wet cell batteries. The Class M evolved throughout its production cycle, this model is an early example.

This example is believed to have been used as a demonstration machine in Kalgoorlie WA, in the mid 1890s.

Concert (5") (Edison, 1899)

The Edison "Concert" phonograph was developed in response to The Graphophone Company's attempt to improve the playback quality of the then wax records. The mandrel on these 5" machines travelled at the same number of revolutions per minute (RPMs) as the standard mandrel sized phonographs, but with a larger diameter, the surface speed was greater and the recording allowing for more space and superior quality recording. The advent of the more durable and better sounding celluloid cylinders meant that the 5" phonographs very quickly became obsolete.

TRIUMPH (Edison, circa 1906)

The customer who had a little more money to spend could chose to do so on a higher end Edison phonograph. Whilst not the top-of-the-line the Edison Triumph was a more robust offering, it featured a triple spring motor so that many cylinders could be played on the one winding.

This Model B Triumph is pictured with an optional Musicmaster oak cygnet horn, an original cylinder record cabinet and is fitted with an Edison repeating attachment.

STANDARD (Edison, Model A, circa 1902)

The Edison Standard Phonograph was the company's best selling phonographs, models varied throughout the long production run (Models A through F).

This Standard Model A, features the more attractive banner decal, end gate to support the mandrel and the smaller proportioned case of quarter-sawn oak, finished with the "Edison green" polish.

FIRESIDE (Edison, circa 1906)

Falling somewhere between the Standard and Triumph models was the Edison Fireside phonograph. The machine was one Edison's most versatile phonographs easily able to play all of Edison's standard sized records (which is why they are often among the collectors' favourites today). Available with a range of horn options, this example features an 11 panel cygnet horn in blue. The standard horn colour offering for such a horn in the USA was black, there have been a range of different colour original horns come up in Australia as they seem to have only been available here, these are prized in collections today.

PUCK (Unknown, circa 1904)

The term 'puck' is used to denote a certain class of cylinder phonograph. These were simple an cheaply produced machines. The mechanisms often did not last long and the sound quality was generally poor at best.

Some pucks are believed to have been complimentary offering to customers who purchased a number of cylinder records. Pucks are usually of European manufacture.