Programs

     ·You'll receive invitations to members-only events and programs

     ·Know that your much-needed donation directly helps to preserve the Thomas Edison NHP

     ·Your donation supports archives preservation and research

     ·You'll get access to special features and content such as photographs and documents not generally available to the public

      · Join a global community of people that want to foster an appreciation of the Thomas Alva Edison legacy.

New members receive:

     · Stock certificate, suitable for framing

     · Edison lapel pin

     ·"Friendship" membership card 

To become a member of the Friends of Thomas Edison National Historic Park, please choose option 1 or 2.

1. To submit your application and pay via PayPal on line, please click here:  Submit your on line Membership Application.

2. If you'd rather print your application and mail it with your payment, please click:  Print Membership Application.

Thank you.

Adopt a Phonograph

at the Thomas Edison NHP!    

These items will be on exhibit in the new Phonograph Gallery on the third floor of Building 5.  Some still need general conservation cleaning and repairs: 

·        Cabinets have veneer losses, scratches, missing carved elements;

·        Torn and damaged silk speaker covers;

·        Missing small parts on the cabinet or mechanism;

·        Decorative metal details are rusty, some need gentle restoration.

·        Adopters can be individuals, businesses, organizations, club chapters

 

Please call John O'Brien, Office Manager at the Friends of Thomas Edison NHP, telephone 973 736 2916 for this worldwide program.

Military Class M, 1889  This early attempt at a portable phonograph is miniature in size, but fully functional in design. 

Thomas Edison personally carried this phonograph under his arm as he boarded a ship to the Paris Exposition of 1889.

COST: $1,100

Water powered phonograph, c. 1890 Before a reliable spring motor could be developed, Edison tried several different sources of power to turn the phonograph record mandrel. 

This phonograph was powered by water from a hose. 

Cost:  $880  This machine has been nicely restored and adopted by Eric von Grimmenstein and Charley Hummel and gently restored. 

Class M coin-slot phonograph, c. 1896  During the early 1890s, Edison attempted unsuccessfully to market the phonograph as a dictation machine for business use in the office. 

Other entrepreneurs found success using Edison’s phonograph to sell recorded entertainment in public spaces like arcades, saloons, and hotel lobbies. 

Customers placed a nickel in the machine and listened to music or comedy through ear tubes. 

The popularity of this type of phonograph led to a major change of direction for the fledgling phonograph industry. 

COST: $1,320 This phonograph has been beautifully and gently restored in commemoration of phonograph collectors Aaron Cramer, David Heitz and Art Wilmoth.

Recording studio cylinder phonograph, c. 1910s

This phonograph was used in the recording studio (and possibly at off-site locations) for cutting master cylinder records. 

Very few examples of this type of machine survive, and each is somewhat different with handcrafted variations. 

COST: $1,320 Special thank you, restored in commemoration of research into the history of Edison phonographs by Friends George Paul and Rene Rondeau.

Stroh violin for recording, c. 1901 & Stroh viola for recording, c. 1901  Inventor Augustus Stroh designed this type of violin and viola especially for phonograph recording. 

While in Europe, Edison’s recording technician William A. Hayes purchased a number of Stroh violins for the Edison recording studio.  The musical instrument’s horn acoustically amplified the sound and focused it toward the recording horn. 

COST: $880 (violin), $660 (viola)

“Kinetophone” system, 1913  In 1913 Edison introduced a new system for sound films, developed much beyond the earlier attempts of 1894-1895. 

With the new system, a projector at the back of the theater connected by pulley to a mechanically amplified phonograph at the front of the theater. 

Operators of the projector and the phonograph communicated by telephone intercom. 

The elaborate system proved to be too complicated for local theater owners to operate independently. 

Although not a long-term commercial success, the Kinetophone represents an important stage in the history of sound films. 

COST: $2,420

This phonograph has a custom-designed cabinet for Thomas Edison to use for evaluating Diamond Disc records. 

The cover of the horn compartment folds down into a desk-top surface for note taking. 

To compensate for Edison’s hearing loss, the open horn compartment allowed him to lean his ear in very close to the horn.

COST $1,320

Metal prototype long-play record changer  

One of Edison’s lesser known accomplishments during the 1920s was a long-play disc record. 

In 1927 Edison introduced a finely threaded, 12-inch diameter disc that ran for 20 minutes per side. 

Designed for the long-play disc, this prototype automatic record changer phonograph could play music continuously for hours.  Its raw appearance is typical of an Edison laboratory working model. 

COST: $2,750

 

Prototype radio-phonograph combination, c. 1927 

 

In 1928, Edison’s sons Charles and Theodore fought declining phonograph sales by introducing radio models.

 

This machine is typical of laboratory prototypes.  Newly designed components were hand-crafted and combined with surplus parts. 

 

The wood cabinet is a factory model discontinued in 1927. The radio and electric turntable are experimental.

 

 COST $1,320

Cine-music System c. 1928

Edison’s son Theodore designed this electrically powered and amplified long-play record system to accompany silent films.
It worked well, but before it got to market Warner Brothers introduced the first practical synchronized sound film system.

COST: $2,420

Additional information about the Adopt a Phonograph Program. As these special machines are United States Government property, we must follow well-defined regulations concerning care and restoration of these valuable artifacts.  The actual restoration work is done by an approved government contractor under appropriate regulations.  Payment for this restoration work is facilitated through the Friends of Thomas Edison NHP in connection with the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service.  Participants in the program should make the payment to Friends of Thomas Edison NHP. Thank you.