Name/Title
Foldable Phonograph Horn (“Umbrella Horn”)Entry/Object ID
225Description
ca. 1900
Historical Background
Around 1900, several manufacturers experimented with portable and space-saving solutions for phonographs. One of the most spectacular inventions was the foldable horn, which could collapse like an umbrella. These horns were covered with fabric, often printed with floral patterns on the inside, and stabilized by a system of metal struts and joints.
The concept: a large, powerful horn that could still be transported and stored easily—ideal for traveling salesmen, demonstrators, or private music lovers with limited space.
Technology and Features
Construction: multi-part metal struts with hinges, fabric-covered segments
Folding mechanism: collapsible like an umbrella
Size unfolded: approx. 80–90 cm in diameter
Design: typical floral fabric pattern of around 1900
Significance and Rarity
Fabric folding horns were technically complex and prone to wear. Only a handful of examples have survived, as the fabric and joints typically deteriorated over the course of more than 100 years.
The example on display at the Edisonium is exceptionally well preserved and vividly demonstrates the ingenuity of early gramophone makers in their quest for portable solutions.
