Gramophone [Peter Pan]
Production date
Post 1923
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1968.17
Production period
Description
Peter Pan Portable Gramophone.
Part 1: Peter Pan portable gramophone built into a compact, box with leather handle and metal latch to close lid. The box is rectangular and covered with an orange brown leather.. The box has a hinged lid which opens to a 180 degree angle. On the front are two dials, one is for brake, and a hole for the crank handle. Inside the box, there is a metal bracket on the inside of the lid and a white plate with ""PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / PATENT 195,801" printed in black. On the base of the unit, there is a protruding metal rod and a circular recess.
Part 2: Metal crank handle with wooden handle on end.
Part 3: Collapsible turntable consists of four metal rods which fold up together and is removable to shut the box.
Part 4: Telescopic speaker made from metal. The speaker is comprised of 6 nested cylinders which sit inside one another and form a cone when extended.
Part 5: Circular metal sound box with bracket at base. The front of the sound box has a glass screen beneath which there is a red panel with " THE / "PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / TRADE MARK / BRITISH & FOREIGN / PATENTS PENDING" printed on it in black. At the back, there are two protruding columns with holes through them.
Part 6: Bent metal rod.
Part 7: Small coil of cream-coloured rubber. Spare gasket for sound box.
Part 8: Small metal needle.
Part 9: Small metal needle.
Part 1: Peter Pan portable gramophone built into a compact, box with leather handle and metal latch to close lid. The box is rectangular and covered with an orange brown leather.. The box has a hinged lid which opens to a 180 degree angle. On the front are two dials, one is for brake, and a hole for the crank handle. Inside the box, there is a metal bracket on the inside of the lid and a white plate with ""PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / PATENT 195,801" printed in black. On the base of the unit, there is a protruding metal rod and a circular recess.
Part 2: Metal crank handle with wooden handle on end.
Part 3: Collapsible turntable consists of four metal rods which fold up together and is removable to shut the box.
Part 4: Telescopic speaker made from metal. The speaker is comprised of 6 nested cylinders which sit inside one another and form a cone when extended.
Part 5: Circular metal sound box with bracket at base. The front of the sound box has a glass screen beneath which there is a red panel with " THE / "PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / TRADE MARK / BRITISH & FOREIGN / PATENTS PENDING" printed on it in black. At the back, there are two protruding columns with holes through them.
Part 6: Bent metal rod.
Part 7: Small coil of cream-coloured rubber. Spare gasket for sound box.
Part 8: Small metal needle.
Part 9: Small metal needle.
Brief History
The Peter Pan portable gramophone was invented by Frederick Ferris in the United Kingdom in the early 1920s. Ferris filed patents for his 'Improved Gramophone' in the UK (1923) and elsewhere around the world. Ferris' company, the Peter Pan Gramophone Company Limited, manufactured several models of miniature portable gramophones in the UK.
This example is the first type, later models had further improvements such as an integrated folding speaker horn and full tone arm. The Peter Pan gramophones are powered by a clockwork motor made by Thorens, Switzerland. The entire machine breaks down into component parts including a collapsible spoked record table, soundbox with support arm, telescoping aluminium speaker horn, and crank handle. The components are able to be securely packed away into the main box which also houses the motor and operating mechanisms. Portable gramophones such as the Peter Pan were often referred to as Camera Gramophones or simply Cameraphones as when packed down they resembled portable box cameras of the time, for example the Kodak Brownie.
This example is the first type, later models had further improvements such as an integrated folding speaker horn and full tone arm. The Peter Pan gramophones are powered by a clockwork motor made by Thorens, Switzerland. The entire machine breaks down into component parts including a collapsible spoked record table, soundbox with support arm, telescoping aluminium speaker horn, and crank handle. The components are able to be securely packed away into the main box which also houses the motor and operating mechanisms. Portable gramophones such as the Peter Pan were often referred to as Camera Gramophones or simply Cameraphones as when packed down they resembled portable box cameras of the time, for example the Kodak Brownie.
Marks
"PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / PATENT 195,801 Maker's Plate
"PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / TRADE MARK / BRITISH & FOREIGN / PATENTS PENDING Printed
"PETER PAN" / GRAMOPHONE / TRADE MARK / BRITISH & FOREIGN / PATENTS PENDING Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Post 1923. Gramophone [Peter Pan], 1968.17. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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