The Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection
Lot 3249:
Description
Made by the United States Talking Machine Co. of Chicago circa 1897 and priced at $3.00. It is housed in a small oak box with a hinged. The simple mechanism consists of a 7″ cast iron turntable which is hand-driven by a cast iron “crank” with a threaded hole that screws onto the spindle and also acts as a record hold down. The cast crank is missing. The tone arm is a simple piece of wood with what looks like a small nail pressed through the end, and an iron weight that can be manually adjusted to control the pressure on the record. The vibrations of the needle are transmitted through the solid wood arm to the other end of the arm and connects to a spring resonator which connects to a gutta percha splitter allowing up to two sets listening tubes. Inside the lid is a large paper label with the company name and address, instructions, and a list of Berliner discs for sale. A little more than a year after its introduction the company failed and the remaining stock was sold off and offered as premiums. Today this machine is extremely rare with only six reported machines known to exist. This machine is complete except for the cast hand crank and one set of listening tubes. The box measures 12.25″D X 8.375″W X3.625″T. The small metal hinges on the back are present but need repair. The front metal locking clip is intact. The labels inside the box are present and in VG condition. The cloth limit strap for the lid is present but broken. The iron counter weight for the arm is present. From the Allen Koenigsberg collection
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