Learn more about the Yankee Prince talking machine
There was an entrepreneur in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century named Arthur J. O'Neill. O'Neill was originally from Wisconsin, got involved in selling dairy products, then gradually moved into the chinaware trade. In 1904, he founded his own firm in Chicago, with associate Winifred B. James, the O'Neill-James Co. They specialized in selling novelties, such as dishes, that could be employed in commercial promotions. The usual scheme was -- they sold a store a quantity of chinaware at a low price. The store advertised that its customers would receive "free" china for buying a certain amount of goods, or for paying off their charge accounts in cash. The "free gifts" encouraged people to buy more.
Around 1906, O'Neill latched on to the idea of using TALKING MACHINES as the bait to lure customers into retail stores. This angle was the best idea yet! Not only were talking machines a marvel of the modern age that everybody wanted, they always needed MORE records -- so even after the machine had been given away to the store client, that client would come back to buy records and continue to shop at the store. Brilliant! And O'Neill-James started doing a booming business in talking machines.
The Yankee Prince was O'Neill-James' improved model of 1908-1912. This particular version was manufactured by Columbia, and contains an especially robust spring motor -- the same one used in the big Columbia Grafonola floor models! Other firms were selling talking machines manufactured by Columbia, but O'Neill specifically insisted on improvements that made his machines BETTER than any of the competition. The condition of this instrument can only be described as "pristine" -- the original cabinet finish is PERFECT, the original decal is superb.
Over 100 years old, but fresh as new. The decal is a complicated affair -- the grand old American homestead is depicted at the center, seat of America's idealism and values -- to the left, the worldly, somewhat decadent "Old World" nobleman -- to the right, the down-to-earth, industrious, no-nonsense American of the "New World." Who else but Arthur J., whose own muse ran high and who dabbled in poetry, would have expended this much symbolism on a talking machine decal?!
The soundbox was truly an innovation -- even better than most of Columbia's own machines, sold under the Columbia name. The soundbox features a larger-than-usual diaphragm -- rendering excellent reproduction of any 78 rpm record.
Originally, Yankee Prince machines were set up in such a way that ONLY the records sold by O'Neill-James, called Busy Bee disc records, could be played. The way this was done, a protrusion was attached to the turntable, and the Busy Bee records had an extra hole to accept this protrusion. However, the owners of Yankee Prince instruments could easily remove the turntable protrusion, and many did. Just behind the center spindle of this machine you can see where the turntable lug used to be before the original owner of this machine removed it. As it stands now, this Yankee Prince can play any or all 78 rpm records.
Should you be interested in acquiring a Busy Bee disc to display with this instrument, we have one for sale at additional cost. And if you should want the turntable lug reinstalled, we can provide that service, also.
The Yankee Prince is a rare and highly collectable machine, and we doubt you could find one in more perfect condition.
Price: $1450.00 US, plus shipping and handling. (NY State residents must pay sales tax, if applicable.)
Contact: phonotim@gmail.com
Telephone: 585-582-1586
FAX: 585 582 2624
US Post: PHONOPHAN
PO Box 747
Henrietta, NY 14467 USA