Antique phonographs enjoyed a vigorous commercial existence 100 years ago. The market they inhabited was as filled with options, accessories, gadgets and gizmos as today's late-night television is populated with slicers, dicers, car waxes and beauty secrets. Collectors have acquired, examined and used these peripherals for years, but little has been written about them. In an effort to reveal more about the fascinating accessories, horns, storage cabinets, advertising and ephemera which surrounded the antique phonograph, the authors have examined nearly 20,000 pages of primary documents, and...

Out of attics and barns, out from under the dust of a century, out of collections far and wide come these spectacular survivors of the phonograph's early years. In 1996, the authors began writing a history of recorded sound. After two successful books, they have continued traveling, researching and documenting these wonderful machines. Few could have imagined how much remained to be discovered Out of these further explorations, this gorgeous new book has come to life-illustrating entirely different talking machines. Through over 400 beautiful color illustrations, follow the progress of the...

Fads and fashions influenced the evolution of phonograph design in twentieth-century America, creating a vivid visual cavalcade. This beautiful volume is full of gleaming metal, glistening wood, pastel plastic, glowing dials, and fashionable fabrics. This is a story of developing style that stretches from the Victrola in the early 1900s to Quadraphonic sound of the 1970s. Yet the history of phonograph design is not just about eye-catching cabinetry, it is also the saga of our parents and grandparents, and the way they saw the world in which they lived. Through 340 color illustrations and...

The antique phonograph is the center of a beautiful, brilliant, and sometimes bizarre universe of accessories. The commercial development of the phonograph, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, inspired a host of adjunct technology, from fancifully-painted flower horns to record storage disguised as furniture. Here are gadgets any snake oil salesman would be proud of - objects that claimed to make the phonograph louder, softer, improve the "tone," or remove the scratching of the needle. There are dazzling horns that call attention to the phonograph, or imposing cabinets...

Enter the fascinating and beautiful world of antique phonographs. Brimming with visual delights, this volume boldly goes into the priceless collections of dedicated enthusiasts from around the globe, documenting the amazing rarities and charming curiosities of the phonograph. In this, their eighth collaboration for Schiffer Publishing, the award-winning authors have assembled over 400 full-color images of historic music machines, many never before photographed. The substantive text and captions add much previously unpublished information. Vibrant wood, shining brass, and fanciful decals are...

The early history of recorded sound, Mr. Edison's most marvelous achievement, brimmed with graphic imagery - elegant, dazzling and delightful Follow these award-winning authors on a bewitching tour of visual artifacts from the phonograph's first fifty years. There are colorful advertising placards, charming publicity posters, clever promotional giveaways, stunning catalog covers, and an astounding selection of gorgeous, hand-painted signs from rare coin-operated record machines. 500 full color illustrations and insightful captions will keep you turning the pages. An entire chapter is devoted...

In this, their fifth collaboration, award-winning authors Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul examine the fascinating and collectible field of phonograph advertising. Whether pragmatic, inspirational, or merely avaricious, talking machine promotion assumed a variety of mantles during its first fifty years. Charming trade cards, brightly lithographed posters, flamboyant letterheads, and a wide variety of bizarre objects emblazoned with marketing slogans were used to sell phonographs and records during the 1877-1929 period. Additionally, phonograph records were used as a medium for promoting...

Antique talking machines are among today's hottest collectibles. Names like "Edison" and "Victrola" call to mind an era of polished wood, brightly-painted morning glory horns, and fascinating machinery. This revised and expanded second edition of The Talking Machine contains over 525 color photographs showing an incredible variety models, and including over 30 never before published photos. The authoritative text and up-to-date values complement the wealth of visuals, making this book a veritable library of information in one volume Topping off this award-winning combination is a music CD...