The Puck Phonograph is a MARVEL of SCENCE! ANCIENT science! The Puck was a brilliant invention. It was thought up by noted talking machine entrepreneur Gianni Bettini. The Puck did exactly what it was designed to do with no extra frills -- it played a cylinder phonograph record. It soon became apparent that the Puck was a virtually perfect instrument from all standpoints-- it could be inexpensively produced, sold at a reasonable price, and functioned reliably: a virtual "People's Phonograph." Many factories commenced to manufacture Pucks in Germany and France.
The horns were proof of the fertility of the human mind -- the colors and subtleties of decoration were infinite. The horn you see here is made of zinc -- in fact a number of components of this instrument are crafted from zinc. Germany had large zinc deoposits and German-manufactured machines frequently employed zinc parts. Zinc won't rust like steel or iron. This Puck horn has been painted by us with colors and a motif precisely in keeping wth the turn of the twentieth century.
This kind of machine is loosely known as a "Kastenpuck," or "Puck on a box." Many Pucks had no wooden parts at all. So the Kastenpuck was a deluxe model.
The Puck "lets is all hang out," as the saying goes -- here you see the spring-driven motor on the left, key-wound rather like a clock, with the mechanism stretched out on an art nouveau cast plate, culminating in the mandrel on which you put the cylinder record. The Puck will play any 2-minute cylinder record.
The mechanism is uncomplicated and mounted on the sculpted metal base, painted sparkling silver. The motor was essentially modified from a clock motor, very basic but amazingly effective -- it runs off a STRING -- instead of a belt, it uses a string. Puckswere phonos that grew out of the German tradition of clock-making. A metal guard protects the string that drives the cylinder from accidental contact. This style Puck was better and more well-designed than most. Please note -- we will supply the buyer with additional string, of a very special type, in case it becomes necessary to replace the string. Note also the three visible weights of the mechanical governor that regulates the speed of the motor.
Here you see the string, with the circular idler wheel.
Pucks were imported into the USA. Columbia did a land-office business in Pucks distributing them in the USA. The Puck was designed with just enough technology to do its job at the time. The Puck will play through one 2-minute cylinder record when fully wound up. The sound quality can only be described as "amazingly loud and clear." The Puck is a decorative artifact which will play a cylinder with surprising results, and the simplicity of it, its technical limitations, actually adds to the appeal, in our opinion. This particular one is a really unusual and pretty example. Compare the beauty and cleanliness of this instrument with the kind of rusty, gummy, beat-up and nasty junk you see on eBay.
Care to see it in action? -- request a video of this instrument playing a cylinder record. Any Edison or Columbia record may be used.
Price: $950.00 US, including one 2-minute cylinder record, plus s/h (NY State residents must pay tax, if applicable).
Contact: phonotim@gmail.com
Telephone: 585-244-5546
US Post: Phonophan
PO Box 747
Henrietta, NY 14467 USA