Name/Title
Traveling Collapsing Horn – Portable Folding HornEntry/Object ID
243Description
ca. 1900 | Manufacturer unknown (USA)
Historical Background
Phonograph and Graphophone horns could reach lengths of up to one meter and were extremely cumbersome when fully assembled. To make them easier for dealers, traveling demonstrators, and showmen to transport, accessory makers developed the so-called “collapsing horn.”
This horn could be collapsed into several sections, saving space in boxes or carrying cases. Once assembled, it was remarkably stable and its sound quality equaled that of standard fixed horns of the same size.
Technical Features
Material: tinplate, conical construction
Design: multi-section, telescoping/collapsible
Transport size: about one quarter of the full length
Sound: comparable to standard horns of equal size
Significance
The Traveling Collapsing Horn was an important accessory in the pioneering days of sound recording. It made public demonstrations at fairs, exhibitions, and dealer showrooms far more practical.
Today, such horns are rarely preserved, as they were heavily used and often worn out. The example displayed in the Edisonium is an impressive testimony to the ingenuity of early accessory makers who worked to make new technology both mobile and practical.
