Edison Triumph Phonograph with Swan-Neck Horn

Object/Artifact

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Edisonium

Name/Title

Edison Triumph Phonograph with Swan-Neck Horn

Entry/Object ID

235

Description

Thomas A. Edison Edison Manufacturing Company USA, ca. 1908 Serial Number: 76468 D Historical Context The Edison Triumph Phonograph represents one of the most technically refined cylinder phonographs of the early twentieth century. It was designed as a high-performance home machine, combining excellent sound quality with a remarkable degree of flexibility in handling different cylinder formats. By around 1908, cylinder technology had reached its technical peak. Two-minute and four-minute cylinders coexisted on the market, and Edison developed systems capable of reliably playing both standards. Technical Feature: 2- and 4-Minute Playback This example of the Edison Triumph is convertible between two- and four-minute cylinders, a defining feature of its design. This capability was achieved through two interdependent systems: Adjustable Feed Mechanism By means of a selector, the feed rate of the leadscrew could be changed. This allowed the reproducer to advance at a coarse pitch for two-minute cylinders or at a finer pitch for four-minute cylinders. Rotatable Reproducer In addition, the reproducer itself had to be rotated into a different position. Only in this configuration would the stylus correctly match the groove pitch of the selected cylinder type. Only the precise combination of feed adjustment and reproducer rotation enabled distortion-free playback of both cylinder formats. Reproducer and Sound The Edison reproducer used here was specifically designed for this dual-standard system. Its construction allowed it to track both the wider grooves of two-minute cylinders and the finer grooves of four-minute cylinders with accuracy. Combined with the large swan-neck horn, the Triumph was capable of producing exceptional volume and clarity. Contemporary listeners described the sound of such machines as surprisingly powerful and detailed—representing a significant advance over earlier cylinder phonographs. Significance The Edison Triumph stands for: the technical peak of Edison cylinder phonographs the successful standardization of two- and four-minute cylinders a highly refined and precise mechanical switching system strong acoustic performance for domestic use This example vividly demonstrates how sophisticated and carefully engineered purely mechanical audio technology already was more than a century ago.