Before going out and spending money for a phonograph, please do your homework. Read books and website on all types of phonographs and familiarize yourself with them. The more you know about them, the more fire power you have when you go to look for a phonograph.

Parts and Identifying them

Cylinder style phonographs: These phonographs were the first to be invented and sold. Edison invented the first cylinder record. Others used the same technology until the flat record was invented.

Above is a Columbia AT Graphophone. This machine plays 2 minute cylinder records.
The records are shaped like the center tube of a toilet paper roll.

A. Pulley wheel with leather belting
B. Governor weights
C. Gears
D. Springs inside canisters

A. Leather belt B. Speed control knob
C. On/Off switch D. Cob/Spindle
E. Reproducer F. Horn

Table top model with horn models: These followed the cylinder machines when the industry adopted the flat record as the standard for all records. Below is one of many brands of phonographs made at that time.

Edison-Bell Gramophone (England)

A. Name plate
B. Speed control
C. Brake
D. Crank

A. Turntable
B. Thumbscrew to hold needle in place
C. Diaphragm (clear disc)
D. Reproducer
E. Tone arm
F. Bracket

A. Reproducer
B. Tone arm
C. Bracket
D. Crank

Elbow that holds the horn in place.

A. Brake
B. Felt on Turntable
C. Speed Control
D. Crank

A. Escutcheon
B. Crank

Cabinet models shortly followed as people's tastes in design changed. Phonographs became more of a furniture fixture and less intrusive like that of the ones with large horns. The cabinet also allowed the engineers to create better sound, larger motors and more attractive phonographs.

Columbia Grafanola

A. Speed control
B. On/Off
C. Turn table
D. Needle cups
E. Tone arm
F. Reproducer
G. Used Needles cup

Edison decided to be different rather than adopting the flat thin 78, that all companies used as the norm. He created his own records, which were called Diamond Discs. These are easy to recognize by the 1/4" thickness and the label with Edison's face on them. These were designed only to be played using a Diamond Tip Stylus on his reproducer. Using a metal needle would ruin the record and sound terrible.

Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph
Model S-19 (Shereton)

A. Volume control switch
B. Diamond Disc Record
C. Reproducer with Diamond tip stylus
D. Tone arm control switch

Above is the Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph Reproducer. It used a diamond tip stylus that lasted longer than any metal needle. This was to be used specifically on Edison's Diamond Disc Records.

Edison sitting with a few of his Diamond Disc Phonographs.

Victor Talking Machine Co. would become one of the largest and most popular companies to make phonographs. Their cabinet style were called, "Victrola". The term Victrola is still used today to describe all old phonographs, even though it's an incorrect way to use the word.

Victor Talking Machine Co. "Victrola" 4-8

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