Name/Title
Puck Phonograph “Bindweed Blossom”Entry/Object ID
132Description
Vereinigte Mechanische Werkstätten G.m.b.H. Berlin – ca. 1903
Unique piece with floral design and German Patent DRP 142630
Historical Background
This exceptionally beautiful and technically refined device originates from the early days of phonograph production in Germany. It was manufactured by Vereinigte Mechanische Werkstätten G.m.b.H. based in Berlin – one of the many small but innovative companies operating around the turn of the century.
What makes this model remarkable is not only its striking design, shaped like a stylized bindweed blossom, but also its mechanical sophistication. The construction is based on German Patent No. 142630, granted in 1902.
Technical Features
Cabinet design: Highly decorative, inspired by floral Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) motifs, likely handcrafted.
Tonearm: Fixed membrane holder with patented linkage system
Playback mechanics: Combined transport and guiding system with disengaging function for pure playback accuracy
Uniqueness
As of today, no other example of this Puck phonograph has been recorded in the literature or in public museum collections. Even international archives and auction databases do not show any record of a second specimen.
Significance
This Puck phonograph represents a rare fusion of aesthetic elegance and mechanical ingenuity. It stands as a symbol of the creative spirit and bold design language of small German manufacturers around 1900. The bindweed-shaped case is not only a visual highlight, but also an expression of the nature-inspired design language so typical of the Art Nouveau era.
With this unique item, the Edisonium Mariazell holds a true jewel of German phonograph history – patented, artistically crafted, and without known equal anywhere in the world.
