1896 Lioretograph No. 2 Cylinder Phonograph With Original Case & 8 Lioret Cylinders
$8,500.00
Ships Worldwide.
The creation of Henri Lioret, the Lioretograph was the offspring of the Bébé Jumeau talking doll and its successor, the Merveilleux “talking box” (for lack of a better description), but it was far more sophisticated than either of those inventions. With the exception of the reproducer and horn (functional but cheap), it was built to a clockmaker’s standards, and its use of celluloid cylinders — rather than the brittle wax cylinders used on early Columbia and Edison machines — was at the time cutting edge.
Condition of this No. 2 Lioretograph is excellent, and the phonograph still runs well. The phonograph’s original display cabinet, which is probably more uncommon than the phonograph itself, is in good condition, with some normal signs of wear and age but no evidence of abuse or neglect. The cabinet’s brass hardware is original, and it’s in good shape, too. Original felt lining on the underside of the lid is in good condition, with no damage. The phonograph’s winding key is original, and it’s in good condition, with clean nickel plating and no corrosion.
The oil bottle and two small interior boxes are faithful replicas made by Julien Anton, the world’s preeminent Lioret historian and the author of Henri Lioret: Un horloger pionnier du phonographe.
Includes the 8 celluloid cylinders pictured, several of which have their complete original canisters.
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