SOLD! Edison Class M Cylinder Phonograph Under Glass

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A Glimpse into Early Recorded Sound: The Edison Class M Phonograph Under Glass

When exploring the origins of audio technology, few artifacts carry as much historic weight as Thomas Edison’s early commercial phonographs. Recently surfaced from the prestigious Allen Koenigsberg Phonograph Collection, Lot 3032 features a remarkably rare configuration: an Edison Class M Cylinder Phonograph mounted inside a custom Hawthorne & Sheble glass-top cabinet.

For historians, antique collectors, and audio enthusiasts, this machine represents a pivotal bridge between early battery-powered machinery and custom luxury furniture designed for display.

What Makes the Edison Class M So Special?

Introduced in the late 1880s and manufactured into the 1890s, the Class M was one of Thomas Edison’s premier commercial phonographs. Unlike the spring-motor models that became common household items in later decades, the Class M was driven by a 2-volt electric motor, powered by heavy wet-cell batteries.

Because of its original price tag and battery maintenance requirements, the Class M was primarily intended for commercial spaces, exhibition venues, or high-end office dictation rather than casual home use.

Notable Highlights of Lot 3032

1. Hawthorne & Sheble Custom Oak Cabinet

Rather than resting on a standard tabletop base, this Class M mechanism is built into a dedicated quarter-sawn oak floor cabinet produced by Hawthorne & Sheble Co.—one of the premier aftermarket phonograph accessory manufacturers of the era.

Beveled Glass Enclosure: The top housing features a hinged cover with beveled glass panels on all four sides and the top, protecting the machinery while keeping the intricate mechanical motion fully visible.
Storage Compartments: The cabinet includes two large locking cylinder-record drawers at the base, two smaller locking drawers, a supply drawer, and a tall vertical door engineered specifically to house the bulky wet-cell batteries.
Hardware & Accents: Detailed with four-sided panelling, original cast brass drawer pulls, and standing on ornate cast brass paw feet.

2. Polyphone Attachment

This particular mechanism is equipped with a nickel-finished Polyphone carriage bearing a patent date of November 9, 1898. Invented by Leon Douglass, the Polyphone system used two reproducers playing the same cylinder track in rapid succession through separate horns to dramatically increase output volume—a major innovation before electronic amplification existed.

3. Preservation & Mechanical Condition

Complete governor, motor, and switch assembly.
Dual reproducers attached to the Polyphone carriage, complete with styluses.
Smooth manual operation—the electric motor turns by hand, and the mandrel spins freely.

The Verdict for Collectors

Pieces from the collection of Allen Koenigsberg—a pioneer in early phonograph scholarship and author of foundational texts on cylinder recordings—are renowned for their historical significance. Combining Edison’s landmark motor assembly, a rare dual-reproducer Polyphone setup, and a luxury glass-and-oak cabinet from Hawthorne & Sheble, this Class M stands out as a museum-grade centerpiece of late 19th-century audio engineering.