1898 Hawthorne & Sheble “Eagle” Graphophone With Accessory Case & Brown Wax Records
$2,500.00
Ships Worldwide.
Early and very uncommon Hawthorne & Sheble “packaged” Columbia B Graphophone sold out of Philadelphia ca. 1897-98. The phonograph comes with a period cloth-covered accessory case in which are housed a speaking tube, a pair of hearing tubes and 6 brown wax records — with everything in its own labeled compartment.
Condition is very good overall, and the phonograph runs well.
The Hawthorne & Sheble dealer imprimatur is crisply printed on the face of the lid, and all of the original clasps and pins are still in place on either side. Cabinet finish is of course original, with a nice gloss. Filigree cabinet handle is in excellent condition, with a beautiful bronze finish. There’s an age related curing/shrinkage crack running across the top of the lid, visible in the pictures.
The accessory case (pasteboard or thin wood) is complete and in good condition relative to how well it was made. It probably sold for a dollar or so when it was new, and its construction is so minimal it can probably best be described as ephemera. But it’s intact, it’s complete (including the original compartment labels), and it presents beautifully beside the phonograph.
The speaking tube is in excellent condition, with minimal fraying. Nicely formed gutta percha mouthpiece, with no damage. Metal collar is clean.
The brown wax records, mixed titles, are all in good playable condition with minimal mold and no cracks or other damage.
The rubber sleeves on the hearing tubes have been replaced; otherwise they are in excellent original condition.
A wonderful outfit consisting of some early phonograph items rarely seen.
SOLD
