Was the idea that the violin body would resonate and produce a better sound?
This was an effort to create a machine which would eliminate part or all of the familiar reproducing features of the talking machines of 1912 or 1913. This is described in a chapter on "Sonorous Bodies" in a 1917 book by Lloyd Macfarlane. The invention of H. Buffet carried vibrations to the wooden body of the violin but actually had a diaphragm actuated by a sapphire stylus and played vertical (Pathe) records. The phonograph on eBay was actually offered in Sept. 2009 and was won by "someone" and, of course, eBay no longer will reveal who this was. Now, magically, the SAME machine is being offered for sale by the SAME seller. Guess who made the winning bid in Sept.!!!! I've discussed this at length with Rene Rondeau, Ray Phillips (who has made reproductions of this machine) and others...and the conclusion has been that this is not an original Palmodian as created by H. Buffet but is a copy. The label has a crazy plastic cover on it. The diaphragm has a wooden rim around it and the originals were metal. The crank does not look right for a machine of that vintage. Now, given all that information, I personally still feel that this machine looks quite well made for a copy. But be careful if you are considering a bid on this machine. This seems to be a good eBay teaching case! ----Art Heller _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
