Antique Berliner New Style Gramophone-Phonograph. France, 1902-1905

Superb antique Berliner New Style gramophone or phonograph made in France between 1902 and 1905 and in excellent condition. Though being more than one century old, this gorgeous device has survived to our days in amazing condition. The New Style was the first gramophone produced by Berliner which was able to play Berliner record and standard 10-inch records too. In order to do so, this model mounts a motor with a much more powerful spring than its predecessors. Except for the leather elbow (a wonderfully made vintage reproduction), all this gramophones component parts are original from the time. It works really fine and provides a great sound, perfect to enjoy the nostalgic charm of turn-of-the-century records. The gramophone has solid-oak wooden box with a simple and elegant design. The box preserves the original decal with the inscription CIE. FRANÇOISE DU GRAMOPHONE PARIS and has an embedded circular plate with the image of an angel playing a record with a feather. This was the brand logo used then by the company. At one side we can see the crank mechanism, made of silvery metal. Though the metal shows clearly the effects of the trace of time, the mechanism is in perfect working order. The reproducer is an original golden-metal Exhibition Long Throat model, a rare and valuable piece. Last but not least, the horn is made of patina-finished brass and remains in magnificent condition. This wonderful antique Berliner New Style gramophone will shine in an elegant dining room or a stylish music room. Dimensions: Base: 10 in / 25.5 cm. Height: 4.33 in / 11 cm. Horn: Length: 15.75 in / 40 cm. Ancho de la Boca: 9.65 in / 24.5 cm. Berliner Gramophones - History Emil Berliner was born in Germany and moved to the United States in 1870. He became famous for inventing the gramophone, the device which would revolutionize the international music industry and whose technology is still used by record players and vinyl records. In 11881 Berliner became a USA citizen; his interest in sound recording would make him research through Edisons and Bells techniques. In 1887 he patented his firs device, the Gramophone, a machine which did not record sounds on cylinders but flat disks. This system made much easier the task of make multiple copies of each unit. Aiming to found his own business, Berliner contacted engineer Eldridge R. Johnson in order to design an affordable wind-up motor for his Gramophone. The design succeeded and Berliner partnered with Johnson and founded the Victor Talking Machine Company. When Berliner suggested adopting the famous image of the dog and the gramophone as their brand logo, the company would change its name to His Masters Voice. After some legal disputes for the Gramophone name in the USA (this is the reason which the Victor Talking Machine Co. Could not use it in its commercial name), Berliner would found other companies in different countries: The Berliner Gram-o-phone Company in Canada, the Deutsche Grammophon in Germany and the British Gramophone Co. Ltd.