Name/Title
Graphophone Type BG – “Sovereign”Entry/Object ID
275Description
Columbia Phonograph Company, USA, 1906
Historical Background
The Graphophone BG was introduced in 1906 as a luxury version of Columbia’s mid-range line and was marketed under the name “Sovereign.” It was the sister model to the BF (“Peerless”) but differed in its more refined design: all mechanisms were fully nickel-plated, and the cabinet was made of solid mahogany with finely turned columns and a profiled base molding.
Technology and Features
Equipped with a long mandrel for the so-called “20th Century” cylinders (6 inches in length), which offered a playing time of up to 3 minutes.
Strong four-spring motor ensuring smooth operation.
Fully nickel-plated mechanism, characteristic of Columbia’s top-of-the-line models.
Cabinet made of solid mahogany, finely crafted.
Lyric Reproducer: a particularly high-quality, one-piece nickel-plated sound box, renowned for its powerful and clear sound reproduction.
Original selling price: 50 US dollars (1906).
At the same time Columbia offered an optional gearing system to switch between 2- and 4-minute records. The BG on display here, however, was not equipped with this feature and was built specifically for the long 20th Century cylinders.
Rarity and Significance
The BG was sold in far smaller numbers than Columbia’s more affordable models and is today considered a highly sought-after collector’s machine. It represents Columbia’s effort to establish the longer “20th Century” cylinders as an alternative to the traditional 2-minute records. With its mahogany cabinet, fully nickel-plated works, and the distinctive Lyric Reproducer, the example displayed at the Edisonium is a particularly impressive testament to the golden age of Columbia Graphophones.
