Name/Title
Columbia “Twentieth Century” Graphophone (Model BC)Entry/Object ID
188Description
Columbia Phonograph Company, New York – ca. 1905–1909
Cylinder phonograph with Higham amplification system
Original price: $100 (without horn or stand)
Historical Background
The “Twentieth Century” Graphophone, also known as Model BC, was one of the most ambitious developments by the Columbia Phonograph Company. First introduced in 1905 as the “New Loud Speaking Graphophone”, its official name – Twentieth Century – was chosen a few months later through a competition among Columbia’s dealers and sales agents.
Its external design strongly echoed the grand Columbia machines of the 1890s: a massive oak cabinet with curved corner columns and a hinged front access panel. The earliest models even used the same cabinet design as the Graphophone Type GG. It was also the first production Graphophone to be equipped with a Higham-patented mechanical amplifier, making it a milestone in early sound reproduction technology.
Daniel Higham’s Amplification System
Daniel Higham of Boston developed a revolutionary new form of sound amplification – not electrical, but purely mechanical, based on friction and tension. A rotating amber wheel was placed behind a large 4-inch diaphragm. Via a vulcanite shoe, constant tension was applied to the diaphragm, which resulted in a significantly louder and clearer sound output.
Columbia advertised the result of this innovation as:
“... with all the volume of the original sound – more naturally than any talking machine ever constructed.”
The BC’s reproducer was a specially designed, gear-driven Higham “Loud Play” Reproducer – a pioneering feat of mechanical audio engineering.
Technical Features and Equipment
Reproducer: Higham “Loud Play” Reproducer with mechanical amplification
Playback formats:
Standard 2-minute cylinders
Amberol 4-minute cylinders (later models featured a switchable gear mechanism)
Columbia 6-inch “Twentieth Century” cylinders (3-minute special format)
Mandrel: Extra-long – capable of handling Columbia’s 6-inch cylinders
Spring motor: Same triple-spring motor as found in Graphophone Type C and Type GG
Governor: 4-ball speed regulator
Cabinet: Solid oak with decorative mouldings and a hinged drop-front panel
Dimensions: 19¼″ × 14″ (49 × 36 cm)
Price: $100 (without horn)
Significance and Rarity
The BC model was technologically ahead of its time. With its Higham amplifier, triple spring motor, extra-long mandrel, and optional automatic repeating mechanism, it was ideal for use in auditoriums and lecture halls, yet also found its place in affluent private homes.
However, due to its high price, weight, and technical complexity, it remained a rare machine with limited production.
Quotation from Columbia Record (1905):
“... with all the volume of the original sound – more naturally than any talking machine ever constructed.”
