Name/Title
Phonograph Record Cabinet with Integrated Horn Holder from Syracuse Cabinet Co.Entry/Object ID
388Description
Phonograph Record Cabinet with Integrated Horn Holder
Syracuse Cabinet Co., Syracuse, N.Y., ca. 1905–1910
Historical Background
This extraordinary piece of furniture combined a phonograph record cabinet with a patented holder for the large external horn. Produced by the Syracuse Cabinet Company in New York, it was aimed at affluent music lovers who wanted to store their growing collections in both a stylish and practical way.
The idea: while the drawers provided storage for 300 cylinders, the bulky horn could simply be placed in the side-mounted support when not in use, sliding neatly into the cabinet. This made phonograph ownership far more practical and living-room friendly.
Technology and Features
Material: solid quarter-sawn oak with striking grain patterns
Capacity: 300 cylinders
Horn holder: patented sliding and folding rail system
Drawers: fitted with circular recesses or revolving bottoms for record storage
Locking mechanism: The drawers were locked and could only be opened when the horn holder was pulled out. This innovative feature secured the collection and tied the unlocking directly to the use of the phonograph.
Rarity and Significance
Very few of these combined record and horn cabinets have survived, as many were later altered or repurposed. The example on display at the Edisonium Mariazell is complete—including the rare horn holder and locking drawer mechanism—and vividly illustrates the luxurious standards of early 20th-century music furniture.
