The First Power Amplified Talking Machine to market

Restored by self, this is the first ever public demonstration on the internet of the Columbia BC higham amplifier cylinder phonograph.
These machines are not so very rare, but, almost none of them play today. Here the original amber wheel and friction shoe were recreated from new materials, about 25 years ago, by myself. It still plays perfectly loud and clear as new today.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Columbia
• phonograph
• BC
• loudspeaking
• graphophone
• cylinder
• player
• gramopohone
• Higham
• friction
• amplifier
• first
• commercial
• audio
• 1905
• sound
• power
• reproducer
• mechanical
• music
• loudspeaker

[ReidOphone]

It works (thanks to patoman and quantumbits both, btw) by friction-stiction. That is, the friction shoe (see my channel page for the patent illustration?) grabs and tries to wrap around the rotating member, that pulley-like thing. Vibes imparted to the end of the shoe cause its grip to vary from slip to grip in sync with the vibes, imparting a variable tug and let-go to the diaphragm. HTH, Reid

[ReidOphone]

First internet demonstration ever of the first mass marketed sound power amplifier.

First truly public demonstration of the Higham amplification principle in nearly a century.

Entirely mechanical, no valves or tubes or transistors about it.

[ReidOphone]

For those in the know who come across this video: yes, we know there were compressed air-type amplifiers of some years before. Prototypes that did not get to the market, not any sort of quantity. Pump a broom handle all the while the machine plays? No. There were prototype Higham friction amplifiers.

But this is the first one for the mass market, and quite a few were made.

The funny thing is: almost all quit making sound in their first months or year of service. The friction mechanism, fritzed.

[edisonphonographfan]

the song is ''A Coon Band Contest''

[edisonphonographfan]

i love this song great a coon band cotest reid i love ths machine i bleive i saw a cas or something like this one but it was only a case thanks

jonathan

[zapkorte]

@dumhumdrum here is your explain: three w point douglas-self point com per MUSEUM per COMMS per trumechamp per trumechamp point htm

[zapkorte]

@edisonphonographfan We know in Europe as Negerstandchen cake walk! See "1908 Hupfeld Unioliszt player piano plays two pieces" at my videos! It is same!

[edisonphonographfan]

@edisonphonographfan

Man I had bad grammer in those days. My sentence barely made sense lol.

Anyway there are a few versions of this song out there today but this is by far the most powerful and driving! There is an old BC 20th Century for sale on Ebay right now actually. Starting bid a whopping 2000! If I had the money I would by it myself.

[dumhumdrum]

Brilliant.... i still don't get quite how the actuall sound is made though, and i have learnt thhe theory, but i still dont get how it makes to many different sounds from a needle being vibrated and amplified through a cone...

Anyone want to email me the answer? ;) Im so intrigued

[2reeler]

I still dont understand it . but its awesome! Thanks for restoring it and sharing. Such a rare machine! The box is all spring! Is that to turn the extra shaft as well as the cylinder?

[2agray]

Wow that's loud! And the clairty is amazing.

[edisonphonographfan]

@edisonphonographfan

Sorry for the bad spelling I dont know what was up with my keyboard that day.

anyway yeah great machine would love to have one!

[amberola1b]

hee hee, sounds like it`s farting when you release the brake

[ampdavolts]

@edisonworks , thank you for the kind words. The camcorder made the motor sound noisier than it really is,

its that AVC, you see...the BC in life sounds just as clear and loud as we could want. It is like magic, you too!

[edisonworks]

I think you did an admirable job, certainly very loud!