Phonograph Alarm Clock by Lioret and Farcot, 1896

Rare French phonograph "Le Merveilleux" for cel-luloid cylinders with 30-second playing time, invented and built by Parisian clockmaker Henri Lioret (1848–1938), with French clock movement by Farcot et Wandenberg No. 114, cast gilt-metal case in the style of Louis XV, 4 sound frets and porcelain dial, height 13 ¾ in. – In 1896, the Société Farcot et Wandenberg asked Henri Lioret to supply parts, cylinder and soundbox for a phonograph clock. The movement and the cylinder of the phonograph clock came solely from Lioret's workshops. The special cylinder bears the trademark of Farcot et Wandenberg on its label. The model can also be found in the 1895 Lioret catalog, No. 4206, "Les Gardes municipaux". At the selected alarm time, the phonograph mechanism is activated, the top lid of the clock opens, the cylinder plays and at the end the mechanism stops and the lid closes again. – Good condition, movement and phonograph mechanism are working. – A milestone in phonograph history and an essential exhibit for the advanced collection.

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)