Name/Title
Excelsior Coin-Operated Phonograph “Liliput”Entry/Object ID
107Description
circa 1900, Manufacturer: Excelsiorwerk GmbH, Cologne (Köln), Germany
This particularly compact coin-operated phonograph is one of the very few surviving examples of German coin-op phonographs from before the First World War. The “Liliput” model was manufactured by the Excelsior Company in Cologne, which specialized in high-quality cylinder phonographs and music automata.
While the United States produced large series of coin-operated machines, the German market remained comparatively small. Many of the few machines that were built were later destroyed during World War II. The preservation of this small yet acoustically powerful machine is therefore all the more remarkable.
The “Liliput” model was designed to play 2-minute cylinders. It features a strong spring-driven motor, a tin horn, and a finely crafted oak case with a glass viewing panel. The “Excelsior” name is painted on the front—a typical period design that gives the device both elegance and simplicity.
The Patent by Phil. Richard (Cologne)
A technical highlight of this machine is its tonearm return system, based on German Patent No. 113477, filed in 1900 by Phil. Richard of Cologne.
The patent describes a purely mechanical system for automatically returning the tonearm after playback. Unlike many American devices, which relied on springs or gravity, this mechanism uses a continuous leather belt, connected to the drive system via a tensioning and guide mechanism.
During playback, the belt moves passively. At the end of the recording, a cam-triggered release mechanism engages the belt, smoothly returning the tonearm to its starting position—precise, gentle on the mechanism, and nearly silent. This makes it one of the earliest known implementations of a centrifuge-free tonearm return system using flexible band transmission in phonographic automata.
Rarity and Significance
The “Liliput” was intended for smaller venues or hotel lobbies—unlike Excelsior’s larger coin-operated models such as the “Gloria” or “Riesen-Phonograph.”
Today, this model is considered extremely rare. According to a veteran collector with over 40 years of experience and access to several major collections, only about five examples in various versions are known to exist worldwide. The Excelsior “Liliput” therefore ranks among the most exclusive phonographic artifacts—and is a true highlight here at the Edisonium.
