Multiphone



This article is part of the ANTIQUE PHONOGRAPH, GRAMOPHONE AND TALKING MACHINE IDENTIFICATION GUIDES.
SEE ALSO: Our listings of outside horn talking machines for sale.


Given the success of nickel-in-the-slot phonographs, it was inevitable that a machine in the nature of a jukebox would be developed to play multiple selections of cylinders. The most popular was the Regina Hexaphone, backed by the very successful Regina Music Box Company. The Hexaphone, which could revolve six records, lasted in production from around 1909-1921.

But the Hexaphone wasn't the only cylinder jukebox. In 1905 John C. Dunton of Grand Rapids, Michigan filed a patent on an improved feed mechanism for phonographs which could be employed on a wheel of cylinder records.

In 1908 the Multiphone Operating Company of New York was announced, using Dunton's patent. Multiphone did not enjoy Regina's financial muscle, and was in constant financial hot water. There were several Multiphone models. A huge, spring-motor, clamshell shaped machine holding 24 records was Multiphone's most impressive offering.

If you count the number of cylinders on the model depicted in black and white below you will total 12 -- it was probably sold as a home model. The other set of images is from a 24 cylinder model.


Multiphone 24 cylinder
Multiphone front
Multiphone 24 cylinder interior
Multiphone interior closeup
Multiphone motor
Multiphone drive

Lynn Bilton
Box 435
Randolph,OH 44265
330 325-7866

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