[Phono-L] Ediphone questions

[Steven Medved]

I have seen NOS blanks on eBay so there are still some around.  I have one of the celluloid practice dictation records and some of these recently sold on eBay.  

 

I have only found one site that gives decent info on these and I finally have the early ones sorted out.  I believe in 1917 the name of the business machine was changed to Ediphone.  In 1906 they started out in a wooden case and I believe the model E went from wood to metal around 1911, I will have to access my info to double check.  All my info comes from examples and the section in the Frow book.

 

I appreciate the info, I have never seen a working shaver or the recorder from the latest one that has the compression ring on top.

 

Steve
 
> Ediphones in general exist in two models: the boss's machine (record & play), and the secretary's machine (play only). Also necessary would be the high speed shaver, and of course, dictation cylinders. Ediphones were produced in many variations, sold, or, records supplied -- from at least the 1920's through the 1960's. The were descended fom a long line of Edison products beginning with the very first wax cylinder phonographs; and, much of dictation machine history is also descended from and intertwined with the earliest Bell-Tainter Graphophones that evolved into Ediphone's competitor, Dictaphone.
> 
> Black, metal-cased Ediphones almost certainly date from the 1920's. Earlier models were wooden (i.e., the Edison 'Business Phonograph' -- the Ediphone's immediate predecessor). Later models were 30's drab gray and more Art Deco in styling.
> 
> I'm not sure if factory records are accesible. Ediphone became McGraw-Edison and then McGraw-Hill Publishing. I don't know the whole story well enough to tell you any more. I know of at least one collector with a keen interest in business machines who can probably dial production dates in more precisely without factory archives. I will try to contact and ask what is known.
> 
> John M
> 
> 
> 
> > Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:02:32 -0500
> > From: jenny.rempe at gmail.com
> > To: phono-l at oldcrank.org
> > Subject: [Phono-L] Ediphone questions
> > 
> > Hello!
> > 
> > I recently bought an old Ediphone that I'm having trouble finding more
> > information on. It is in a black metal box and uses wax cylinders. It has
> > headphones with rubber tubing, but no mouthpiece. Were the recording and
> > playing done on two different pieces of equipment. Also, I'm not certain of
> > its age and wanted to know if anyone could tell by the serial number. The
> > serial number 256299 with a T a couple of spaces in front of it.The motor
> > has serial number 113402.
> > 
> > If there is anything you can share with me, please let me know.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Loki
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