Edison North American Class M Electric Phonograph

Description:

Edison North American Class M Electric Phonograph, No. 7028, with Automatic reproducer No. NL 11771, weighted two-ball governor, brake and large electric motor with coils driving horizontal pulley, on bedplate with three nickel-plated plaques engraved respectively Class M, North American Phonograph Co., New York with patd. dates to July 31 1888, and This Machine is sold by The North American Phonograph Company under the restrictions that it shall not be used within the State of New Jersey, dovetailed mahogany base with drawer containing oil can and belt, on 22-inch stained wood base with mitred edge and cover, (lacking shaver and swarf box, belt disconnected, with one damaged brown wax cylinder).

Note: The Class M, driven from a wet cell battery, was Edison's first major improvement since the tinfoil phonograph of 1877. Initially leased through the North American Phonograph Company as dictating machines for business use, the Class M was eventually offered for sale for domestic use after the company went bankrupt in 1894. This example was discovered during recent renovations of the basement of a building in Roxbury, Massachusetts. From information supplied by the vendor, the original owner of the house in the late19th century was a doctor.
Estimate $20,000-30,000

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