Columbia Parlor Desk Graphophone

 

 

 

This is a Columbia Type A Graphophone in a parlor cabinet. This cabinet is in the shape of a "C" roll top desk, the roll top can be pulled down to hide the Graphophone. The 8 drawers can hold about 200 cylinders on wooden pegs, the 2 drawers above the roll top were to store extra reproducers, recorders, and the like. This cabinet sold for $35 in 1897, the Graphophone sold for $25. A mahogany version was also available for $5 more, also there were versions of the cabinet to hold the larger 5" Grand style Graphophone.

 

Close up of the Columbia Model A Graphophone installed in the desk. This is the "Washington" version Model A, it is serial number 4727 a very late production machine.

Phonographs  Home