Name/Title
Phonographe “Conqueror” (Cannevel) Le Phonographe FrançaisEntry/Object ID
171Description
Le Phonographe Français, Paris – ca. 1900–1902
Large French Concert‑Cylinder Phonograph
Historical Background
Parisian engineer Édouard Cannevel was among the most ambitious French phonograph developers around 1900. He registered several patents for technical improvements, particularly in soundboxes and diaphragms. Together with Paul Hébert, he filed a patent on 31 July 1900 for the duplication of phonograph cylinders by means of electroforming – a process that allowed wax cylinders to be mass‑produced in greater numbers.
The model shown here was marketed by Le Phonographe Français under the name “Conqueror” – presumably a statement of technical prowess and a marketing strategy to compete with American rivals such as Edison. Henri Lioret, one of France’s best‑known phonograph makers, sold identical machines under the name “Le Charmeur” (The Charmer).
Construction and Technology
The “Conqueror” is a large‑scale Concert‑cylinder phonograph, designed exclusively for 5‑inch‑diameter cylinders (12.7 cm). Compared with standard cylinders, these offered a much greater groove length, resulting in increased volume, improved fidelity, and longer playing time.
Technical Features:
Endgate design similar to Edison phonographs, allowing quick loading and removal of cylinders
Precision spring motor with side‑mounted crank
Large aluminium horn for maximum sound projection
High‑quality soundbox built to Cannevel’s patent, optimised for the wider grooves of the Concert format
Concert cylinders were an exclusive medium:
Initially priced as high as US $5 each (about €125 today)
Relatively fragile and sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity
Bulky to store – a single Concert cylinder took up as much space as several dozen standard cylinders
Rarity
Only a handful of “Conqueror” machines are known to survive today. Due to their high production and operating costs, Concert phonographs were purchased only by wealthy clients or for special demonstration purposes. The large, imposing design and its exclusive focus on the Concert format meant that such machines disappeared from the market within just a few years, replaced by more affordable standard‑ and intermediate‑format phonographs.
Significance
The Phonographe “Conqueror” is an impressive example of the French high‑end approach to phonograph design around 1900. With its powerful technology, imposing scale, and sole dedication to the Concert format, it represents the luxury and exhibition‑grade instruments of its time – built for spectacular sound demonstrations rather than everyday domestic use.