Name/Title
Idéal‑Phonographe No. 5 – Combination Cylinder and Disc PhonographEntry/Object ID
159Description
Maison de la Bonne Presse, Paris, France – ca. 1908–1910
The Idéal‑Phonographe No. 5 was an exceptional and technically ambitious machine, created at a time when no definitive standard between cylinder and disc players had yet been established in Europe. Produced and marketed under the in‑house brand of Maison de la Bonne Presse, a Parisian religious publishing house, it could play both disc records and phonograph cylinders in various formats – a highly unusual and innovative feature for its day.
Technical Features and Versatility
Combination drive for cylinders and discs – allowing for a quick change between the two media types.
Turntable for standard records and specially marketed Pathé discs.
Cylinder playback in three formats:
Standard cylinders (approx. 2 minutes playing time)
Inter cylinders (3 ½ inches)
Concert cylinders (5 inches in diameter, approx. 4–5 minutes playing time)
Two horns:
Large, blue‑tinted sheet‑metal horn for disc playback – rear‑mounted for an imposing appearance and improved sound projection.
Aluminium horn for cylinder playback, with matching support and reproducer connection.
Reproducer: High‑quality soundboxes, each optimised for its intended purpose – including the Le Cahit (Le Merveilleux) for cylinders.
Operation and Media Change
Switching between cylinder and disc operation required only a few simple steps:
For cylinder use: remove the turntable, insert the cylinder mandrel, and fit the appropriate horn.
For disc use: install the turntable, leave the cylinder mechanism idle, and attach the horn and reproducer for discs.
Historical Significance
The Idéal No. 5 was aimed at an affluent clientele seeking maximum flexibility. Its ability to play both discs and cylinders – and in multiple sizes – made it something of a “universal phonograph” of its era. Maison de la Bonne Presse also used the machine as a promotional tool for its record production, particularly for religious and cultural recordings, marketing it through lavishly designed advertisements.
Rarity
Original surviving examples of the Idéal‑Phonographe No. 5 are today extremely rare, especially in complete and functional condition with both horns and all playback components. The example displayed at the Edisonium Mariazell is fully equipped and showcases the impressive engineering of French phonograph makers just before the final triumph of the disc record.
