Phonograph [Polly Portable]
Maker and role
Polly Portable Phonograph Company, Manufacturer
Production date
Early 1920s
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1968.21
Production period
Description
Phonograph - "Polly" - portable with paper horn and 6 x 78 rpm records (10"). Box has a leather handle and metal clasp fastener. The unit consists of a flat black box with a turntable on top to accommodate 78 RPM records. The turntable has a green felt lining. A turning handle is provided to wind up the mechanism. A lever in the bottom left hand corner acts as a STOP/START switch. There is a circular knob in the same corner which controls the record speed, "S/F". The unit has a hinged lid which can also store some records. On the interior of the lid, there is a cream coloured label with gold borders. "POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. / POLLY / PORTABLE / PATENTED 2.281922 U.S. AND FOREIGN / PATENT NOS. INSIDE PATENTS PENDING / TRADE MARK REGISTERED".
Contains a double sided His Master's Voice record: Side One: "HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / DOWN IN DE CANE BREAK / (CRUMIT) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112169) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W." There is a square label, "J. ALBERT & SON / ROYALTY STAMP / NZ". The record is impressed with "A 43535". Side Two:
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / THE SONG OF THE PRUNE / (CRUMIT-DE COSTA) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112168) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W."
There is a square label, "J. ALBERT & SON / ROYALTY STAMP / NZ". The record is impressed with "A 43535".
Operation instructions are on a piece of light card in the shape of a record stored on top of the record. Has illustration of how to assemble the paper horn. "POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK, N.Y. / HOW TO OPERATE THE POLLY [...]".
Horn has a logo of a parrot, "POLLY PORT. PHONOGRAPH COMP."
"POLLY OSCILLATOR / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / THIS SIDE MUST BE UP". The paper horn opens out into a cone shape.
Contains a double sided His Master's Voice record: Side One: "HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / DOWN IN DE CANE BREAK / (CRUMIT) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112169) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W." There is a square label, "J. ALBERT & SON / ROYALTY STAMP / NZ". The record is impressed with "A 43535". Side Two:
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / THE SONG OF THE PRUNE / (CRUMIT-DE COSTA) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112168) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W."
There is a square label, "J. ALBERT & SON / ROYALTY STAMP / NZ". The record is impressed with "A 43535".
Operation instructions are on a piece of light card in the shape of a record stored on top of the record. Has illustration of how to assemble the paper horn. "POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK, N.Y. / HOW TO OPERATE THE POLLY [...]".
Horn has a logo of a parrot, "POLLY PORT. PHONOGRAPH COMP."
"POLLY OSCILLATOR / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / THIS SIDE MUST BE UP". The paper horn opens out into a cone shape.
Brief History
In the early twentieth century the phonograph became a popular means of entertainment, bringing music into the home. The turntable on this portable phonograph was operated by turning a handle manually. It played the 78 RPM records which became standard from around 1915.
Thorn Machine Products Company in Syracuse, New York began manufacturing Polly Portable Phonographs in late 1926. The phonographs were marketed by the Polly Portable Phonograph Company, 353 Fifth Avenue, New York which had filed a trademark for the Polly brand in September 1925. An identical phonograph was marketed in the USA by the Brunswick-Balke-Callender Company as the Parisian Portable, and in the United Kingdom as the Guinophone.
The Polly has a parchment or paper cone which was designed to fold for storage in the lid. A separate, more robust and non-folding cone was available for home use.
Thorn Machine Products Company in Syracuse, New York began manufacturing Polly Portable Phonographs in late 1926. The phonographs were marketed by the Polly Portable Phonograph Company, 353 Fifth Avenue, New York which had filed a trademark for the Polly brand in September 1925. An identical phonograph was marketed in the USA by the Brunswick-Balke-Callender Company as the Parisian Portable, and in the United Kingdom as the Guinophone.
The Polly has a parchment or paper cone which was designed to fold for storage in the lid. A separate, more robust and non-folding cone was available for home use.
Marks
S/F Printed
POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. / INC. / POLLY / PORTABLE / PATENTED 2.281922 U.S. AND FOREIGN / PATENT NOS. INSIDE PATENTS PENDING / TRADE MARK REGISTERED Label
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / DOWN IN DE CANE BREAK / (CRUMIT) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112169) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W. Printed
J. ALBERT & SON / ROYALTY STAMP / NZ Label
A 43535 Impressed
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / THE SONG OF THE PRUNE / (CRUMIT-DE COSTA) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112168) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W. Printed
POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK, N.Y. / HOW TO OPERATE THE POLLY [...] Printed
POLLY PORT. PHONOGRAPH COMP.
"POLLY OSCILLATOR / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / THIS SIDE MUST BE UP Printed
POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, N.Y. / INC. / POLLY / PORTABLE / PATENTED 2.281922 U.S. AND FOREIGN / PATENT NOS. INSIDE PATENTS PENDING / TRADE MARK REGISTERED Label
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / DOWN IN DE CANE BREAK / (CRUMIT) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112169) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W. Printed
J. ALBERT & SON / ROYALTY STAMP / NZ Label
A 43535 Impressed
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / THE SONG OF THE PRUNE / (CRUMIT-DE COSTA) / FRANK CRUMIT / COMEDIAN / with Orch. / (112168) / Speed 78 / Cat. No. / E.A. / 366 / Record manufactured by THE GRAMOPHONE CO., LTD., Sydney. N.S.W. Printed
POLLY PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH CO. / 353 FIFTH AVE. NEW YORK, N.Y. / HOW TO OPERATE THE POLLY [...] Printed
POLLY PORT. PHONOGRAPH COMP.
"POLLY OSCILLATOR / TRADE MARK REGISTERED / THIS SIDE MUST BE UP Printed
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Polly Portable Phonograph Company. Early 1920s. Phonograph [Polly Portable], 1968.21. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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