Name/Title
Polyphon Swing-Arm Gramophone (Germany, ca. 1910–1912)Entry/Object ID
242Description
A Moving Sound – the Only Known Swinging-Horn Gramophone by Polyphon
This extraordinary device was produced by Polyphon Musikwerke AG, one of the leading manufacturers of music automata in the German Empire. Originally renowned for their disc-operated music boxes, Polyphon began producing gramophones around 1908 – including several unique and innovative designs.
What makes this device special:
The resonance horn is not fixed but mechanically linked to the spring motor.
During playback, the horn swings rhythmically from side to side – with an arc of about 120 degrees.
This movement allowed the sound to be distributed across the room – a clear advantage for use in restaurants, hotel lobbies, or dance halls.
The idea was likely to create a primitive form of “surround sound” through dynamic acoustic projection.
Technical features:
Heavy mahogany case with inlaid “POLYPHON” lettering.
Spring-driven motor with hand-crank.
Conventional tonearm with sound carried through an enclosed tube system into the pivoting metal horn.
The swinging horn mechanism is entirely mechanical – no electricity, no electronics.
Unique in its kind:
Despite extensive research, only one surviving example of this swinging-arm Polyphon gramophone is known to exist – the one displayed here at the Edisonium Mariazell. There are no patents, no advertisements, no catalog entries for this model in museums or private collections – it remains a true technical enigma.
It was likely produced in very limited quantities or even built as a prototype for special venues. A custom-built version for a private client is also conceivable.
Conclusion:
This Polyphon swing-arm gramophone is a unique acoustic artifact. It exemplifies the inventive spirit of German mechanical music engineering around 1910, reflecting a time of bold experimentation at the edge of function and fascination.
It is not merely a playback device – it is a kinetic sound sculpture.
