Name/Title
Berliner Gramophone – Mahogany Model with Carrying CaseEntry/Object ID
395Description
Berliner Gramophone – Mahogany Model with Carrying Case
Emil Berliner, Berlin/Paris/London – ca. 1898–1902
Historical Background
Emil Berliner (1851–1929), born in Hanover and later emigrating to the United States, is regarded as the inventor of the disc record and the associated gramophone. In 1887, he was granted the fundamental patent for the laterally cut, flat shellac disc. With the founding of the Berliner Gramophone Company in the USA and additional branches in Europe – including Berlin, Paris, and London – Berliner laid the foundation for the modern record industry.
The company logo, depicting the dog “Nipper” intently listening into the horn of a gramophone, became world‑famous as “His Master’s Voice” and remains one of the most iconic trademarks in music history.
Special Features of the Model
This mahogany gramophone dates from around 1900 and is distinguished by the following features:
Cabinet crafted from the finest mahogany
Vertically mounted crank – a typical hallmark of this model series
Original canvas‑and‑leather carrying case, with fitted compartments for the machine, horn, and accessories
Construction and Technology
This machine is a classic side‑horn gramophone for disc records, featuring:
Side‑mounted wooden tone‑arm support
Friction brake mechanism
Spring‑driven motor wound by hand crank
Detachable metal horn
Market Presence
Interestingly, this model was marketed under different names in various countries, even though it came from the same production runs of the Gramophone Company. Berliner adapted the names, branding, and occasionally small design details to better suit each local market.
Significance
This mahogany portable gramophone is a rare witness to the earliest years of commercial record production. It reflects both the technical state of the art in the late 1890s and Berliner’s ambition to market his invention in a finely crafted, portable form worldwide. The survival of an example with its complete original carrying case makes it an exceptional rarity today.
