A little light on lamp phonographs

SITE INDEX

FOR SALE

VIRTUAL OH

VIRTUAL CT

OH MAP

CT MAP

FREE CLASSIFIED

LINKS

ARCHIVES

HOME

MORE: THE LAMPOGRAPH AND THE FAIRY

MORE: THE PHONOLAMP AND THE MODERNOLA

A little light on lamp phonographs

The wedding of the lamp and the phonograph was first proposed in 1878, when someone floated the idea of a giant beacon and tinfoil machine atop the head of Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty, then under construction. But the marriage wasn't consummated until around 1916, when house current became sufficiently widespread.

Most of the machines depicted here appeared from around 1918 to the mid-20s. Not much is known of the men or companies behind them.

The Capitol
Burns-Pollock Electrical Manufacturing Co.
Indiana Harbor, Indiana

Base of the Capitol, with shade removed.

Variation with wooden base.

Typical upperworks.

MORE: THE LAMPOGRAPH AND THE FAIRY
MORE: THE PHONOLAMP AND THE MODERNOLA