Name/Title
Graphophone "Type A New York"Entry/Object ID
379Description
American Graphophone Company, New York
ca. 1896–1897 | Serial No. 70308 | Price: approx. $40.00
Historical Background
The Type A was Columbia’s first serially produced Graphophone, forming the foundation for the commercial use of the phonograph from the late 1880s onwards. The early “Washington A” machines were built in Washington, D.C. (from 1888), followed by the “New York A” versions after production was moved to Bridgeport/New York (from about 1890).
This example, with the high serial number 70308, belongs to the late New York A models (1896/97) – produced at a time when the Type N (“Bijou”) had just been introduced (1895) and was soon followed by the Type AN (1897). It therefore represents the final stage of the Type A before its replacement.
Technical Features
Motor: spring-driven clockwork with centrifugal governor
Serial number range: approx. 1–74,000 (Washington and New York A), plus a later block around 200,000
Cabinet: solid oak with gold “The Graphophone” banner decal
Decoration: black enameled chassis with floral gilt details
Reproducer: early Columbia standard sound boxes (#1 / #2)
Side crank, feedscrew carriage for reproducer travel
Contemporary Advertising (Columbia Phonograph Co., 1890 s)
“The Graphophone – pure, distinct, reliable”
Promoted as suitable for speech, singing and music, both in homes and businesses
Emphasis on the ability to reuse and shave cylinders for repeated recordings
Significance and Rarity
The Type A is regarded as Columbia’s first truly successful production model and a cornerstone of the American phonograph industry.
This example, with serial number 70308, is one of the late New York-built Type A machines, produced just before the introduction of the Type AN. It stands at the transition between Columbia’s pioneering instruments and their later mass-produced models.
