A little light on lamp phonographs

September 2004
This article is part of the Noteworthy News archives.


MORE: THE LAMPOGRAPH AND THE FAIRY

MORE: THE PHONOLAMP AND THE MODERNOLA

The wedding of the lamp and the phonograph was first proposed in 1878, when someone floated the idea of a giant beacon and tinfoil machine atop the head of Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty, then under construction. But the marriage wasn't consummated until around 1916, when house current became sufficiently widespread.

Most of the machines depicted here appeared from around 1918 to the mid-20s. Not much is known of the men or companies behind them.

The Capitol

Burns-Pollock Electrical Manufacturing Co.
Indiana Harbor, Indiana
Capitol lamp phonograph

Base of the Capitol, with shade removed.

Capitol lamp phonograph with wooden base

Variation with wooden base.

Capitol phonograph upperworks

Typical upperworks.

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