Name/Title
Columbia Graphophone Type AQEntry/Object ID
236Description
USA, ca. 1898–1902
A Widely Distributed Mass-Market Model by Columbia
The Type AQ was one of the first commercially successful home-use graphophones produced by the Columbia Phonograph Company. Introduced around 1898, it ranks among the earliest fully factory-produced phonographs for wax cylinders – designed specifically for a broad consumer market.
Built with a simple yet durable mechanism, the AQ was optimized for longevity and mass production. It was significantly more affordable than larger models such as the Type N or AB, and it was marketed as an entry-level device for everyday use.
Historical Context
The AQ was produced in large quantities, mainly between 1898 and 1902. It was explicitly intended for domestic use and, for many households, represented their first contact with recorded sound.
Contemporary advertisements described it as a “Graphophone for the Home,” often offered alongside language-learning cylinders or musical recordings. Due to its ease of use, low cost, and availability through mail-order catalogs such as Sears Roebuck, the AQ became one of Columbia’s most widely recognized models of its time.
Significance in the Edisonium Mariazell
The displayed machine illustrates the typical configuration of the Type AQ, featuring its original horn, intact japanned finish, and fully preserved mechanical components. It exemplifies the rise of standardized, mass-produced audio technology around 1900 and reflects a turning point in the democratization of recorded sound.
