Rare Original Gramophone by Emile Berliner, 1890 onwards

First series of production by Grammophon-Spielwaren-Fabrik Kämmer, Reinhardt & Co. of Waltershausen, with hand-cranked mechanism, papier-mâché horn, soundbox with patent date 8th Nov. 1887 and wood base with bolt for record-clamp, size: 11 ¾ x 6 in. (30 x 15 cm), horn damaged around edge, otherwise good original condition. Included are 2 (12-cm) hand-rubber records (nos. 37 and 490) with labels (one of "GFKC" (Grammophon-Fabrik Kämmerer & Co.) on the reverse). – The German emigrant Emile Berliner patented his invention on 8th November 1887 in Germany and America simultaneously, followed by patents in several other countries. Berliner's machine, however, awoke little interest in America at this time thanks to Thomas Edison's unveiling of an improved cylinder phonograph at the Paris World Exhibition of 1889. A year into his return to Germany, Berliner met with more success. Berliner carried out improvements to his design in the telephone factory of his brother Joseph in Hanover and made contact with a company willing to put his design into production: Toy and doll manufacturer Kämmer and Reinhardt. Around 600 records in various languages were produced. Discs were produced by Louis Rosenthal of Frankfurt. Despite European success, Berliner's big break-through in America came a few years later, albeit with a slightly modified design and appearance for the transatlantic market. – Provenance: From the estate of the successor to the former Emile Berliner recording studios in Hanover. – Literature: Fabrizio/Paul, "The Talking Machine", p. 27. – An important milestone in the history of recorded sound!

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)