1900 Zonophone Prescott Model C Gramophone Phonograph

Here we have my very rare Zonophone Prescott Model C Gramophone or if you are in the US Phonograph.

I've had this machine since 1998 which I got at auction at Christies, London.

The horn had been very poorly re done many years before and as it was the wrong side of awful I was compelled to spruce it up a bit.

Up until now, I've been unable to identify the machine or glean any information as I've not been able to locate any photos or written data on this except one reference in Reiss' Compleat Talking Machine where he refers to early model C's having continuous ridged sides with no straight surfaces.

Recently though, I have had contact from an expert in this field who has written articles on the subject and I am able to share the following information I have discovered about this machine.

This is a 1900 Zonophone Prescott Model C Gramophone. Please note the Ivorine plaque on the front of the machine. This identifies that it is an export model and bears the name F M Prescott, this plaque is different to the machines intended for US issue as they didn't bear the Prescott name and reference to export etc.

I understand that there are only two examples of this Type C bearing this plaque identification worldwide. One is in Canada and this one. The other model C is shown on YouTube and has a slightly different moulding to the case. It bears the export plaque but it is thought that the case used for that one could have been a US base whilst this one it is thought to be the export pattern. Either way, both a re extremely rare and as I say, only two machines are known to survive bearing this Ivorine identification plate.

The serial number which is stamped on the motor plate near the crank is almost invisible to the eye, but when you know where to look and through a strong lens, you can see that the number stamped is 867.

This machine is playing an original Zonophone 7" record: A9278, Victor Herbert's Band, William tell overture. Single sided, it has the indentation for the spring loaded locating pin on the turntable to locate into the underside of the record to stop disc slip.

The motors works pretty well, plays the record with no issues and sounds really quite good for a machine and acoustic recording 117 ish years of age at the time of upload.

Enjoy the video, my thanks go to the experts with their extensive knowledge and generosity of time who have assisted with the identification of this rare machine.