Phonograph

ID:

2008.91/1

Production date:

c. 1900

Location:

In Store

This Columbia Home Grand Graphophone phonograph belonged to Cromwell Wall (1866-1937), a civil engineer who lived with his family in what was then the new north London suburb of New Southgate. It was given to the Museum of London by Cromwell's grandson, together with group of wax phonograph cylinders containing recordings Cromwell made between 1902 and 1917.  < ...Read more

This Columbia Home Grand Graphophone phonograph belonged to Cromwell Wall (1866-1937), a civil engineer who lived with his family in what was then the new north London suburb of New Southgate. It was given to the Museum of London by Cromwell's grandson, together with group of wax phonograph cylinders containing recordings Cromwell made between 1902 and 1917.

The recordings include hymns, popular songs, musical pieces, talking and laughter, and even church bells pealing in the New Year. Family members and friends and neighbours appear.

Phonographs had been introduced in the late 1880s but were at first used largely as office dictating machines. A decade later commercial recordings by famous singers and orchestras had become popular but home recording remained relatively limited because the machines and blank wax cylinders for recording were expensive.

This 'Home Grand', with its ornate wooden case and gold scrolled lettering, would have been a pleasure to look at and to use. In 1907 the Army and Navy Co-Operative Society store in Victoria was selling a much cheaper, plainer version for 30 shillings. < Hide

Measurements

H 410 mm; W 422 mm; D 350 mm (with lid closed)

Materials

wood; metal; leather

Last Updated

2024-03-14